Day 058 - 30 Nov 94 - Page 45


     
     1        earlier.  The majority" and then it goes on, "By the same
     2        reason forestry is the primary course for species being
     3        threatened."
     4        A.  Yes, I think it is a little difficult to say.  That is
     5        a fair interpretation that the industry accept that itself
     6        because, in fact, a high proportion of endangerment of
     7        species at the level of extinction or near extinction
     8        applies outside the forestry area.  The Ministry of
     9        Environment did its analysis and presented in its own
    10        particular way, but I am in possession of considerable
    11        analyses carried out by the forest industry in the process
    12        of actually applying themselves to dealing with the
    13        issues.  They have not just sat back to defend themselves.
    14        They have, in fact, since these reports have been published
    15        been very active in setting aside forest land with
    16        government support and, at the same time, addressing the
    17        issues within both the privately owned forests and the
    18        State owned forests of Finland.
    19
    20   Q.   Can I just suggest that all those documents that I
    21        have managed to get photocopies of we could put behind
    22        Mr. Hopkins' statement?  It might be a good idea.
    23
    24   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  The ones you have handed up to me?
    25
    26   MR. MORRIS:  Today, yes.
    27
    28   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
    29
    30   THE WITNESS:  May I respond in one particular respect to the
    31        particular approach to Finland in this, and say that in
    32        regard to mammals that are on the list of endangered
    33        species within that country, 11 per cent of known mammals
    34        in Finland are on the list, but in the other countries
    35        Britain has 31 per cent of known animals on its list,
    36        France has 53 per cent and Germany has 47 per cent of known
    37        mammals on that list, because it includes very large
    38        numbers of lists of animals which are in need monitoring,
    39        and monitoring is not the same thing as endangerment.
    40
    41   MR. MORRIS:  That, presumably, is the first stage?
    42        A.  It is the first stage of awareness that there is an
    43        ecological change taking place which could equally be a
    44        natural change in the process of the natural selection of
    45        species as any other intrusion.
    46
    47        My Lord, I could go on, there are 14 birds threatened in
    48        Finland and that is all compared with 132 in France and 63
    49        in the United Kingdom.  The statistics have to be analysed
    50        for more deeply than the figures that have been presented 
    51        in court to me today.  Certainly, if you want further 
    52        information on this, it is available.  I was not expecting 
    53        to be asked this.
    54
    55   Q.   I am not suggesting that Finland is worse than other
    56        countries because I do not know -- that may or may not be
    57        the case -- I am just saying that the problem of forest
    58        management in Finland is leading to environmental problems,
    59        for example, with threatened species which is recognised by
    60        the Ministry of Environment, so that is fair comment?

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