Day 073 - 13 Jan 95 - Page 25


     
     1        since the Second World War up to now in Finland has had an
     2        adverse effect on the environment biodiversity and other
     3        things connected with it.
     4
     5   Q.   Are there any other very strong quotes?
     6        A.  No, this is fine; I think that covers it well.
     7
     8   Q.   I am still working through the statement picking out
     9        particular -- is there a recognition by any representative
    10        of the British government of environmental concerns about
    11        forests?
    12        A.  Yes. I can see you are, in fact, holding the
    13        proceedings of the ministerial conference on the Protection
    14        of Forests in Europe which was held in Helsinki during
    15        1993.  Hector Munro, who was Minister of Agriculture at
    16        that time, attended that conference as the representative
    17        of the United Kingdom and signed various documents on our
    18        behalf.  At that conference I cannot remember in detail
    19        what he might say, but I know it is written down in the
    20        proceedings.
    21
    22   Q.   If I can just read it out:  "Mr. Chairman, for many years
    23        it has been the management of tropical forest that has
    24        attracted most public scrutiny and concern.  The forestry
    25        policies and practices of many countries in which these
    26        forests lie have been subjected to severe criticism - most
    27        often, it has to be said, by people living in richer
    28        countries whose welfare did not depend directly on the
    29        exploitation of tropical forests."  This is page 124 of
    30        this document.
    31
    32        "But the focus of public concern has widened - the
    33        management of temperate and boreal forests is now under the
    34        same spotlight.  We must be alive to the concerns being
    35        expressed.  We have the opportunity here in Helsinki to
    36        show that we, the governments of the countries of Europe,
    37        are building on the achievements Rio", that is the United
    38        Nations Ecological Conference, yes?
    39        A.  Indeed, yes.
    40
    41   Q.   "We shall put into effect in our own countries forestry
    42        policies and practices which stand up to the test of
    43        sustainability."   What is your view about what he is
    44        saying there?
    45        A.  I think it is very important because it is the first
    46        time that I know a British government minister has made a
    47        statement saying, or implying anyway, that within the sort
    48        of political language there might be some problems in our
    49        own forests here in Europe, and he basically says what
    50        I say in my own statements in various places, that in the 
    51        past the focus was on tropical forests, and now it is 
    52        moving to our own forests, partly because we got called 
    53        hypocrites by Third World countries like Malaysia who
    54        said:  "You are, basically, ruining your own forests; do
    55        not tell us what to do down here.  Look at your own back
    56        door", which we are now doing, or governments are now
    57        doing.
    58
    59   Q.   When he said:  "We shall put into effect ... forestry
    60        policies and practices which stand up to the test of

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