Day 240 - 24 Apr 96 - Page 28
1 A. Would it be relevant or helpful if I were to provide
2 subsequent to today other evidence of other organisations
3 or authorities using the word in a generic sense?
4
5 Q. No, it would not. Unless I misunderstand what you are
6 asking, it falls directly far of the authority on the
7 matter.
8
9 MR. MORRIS: Right. Continuing to read the statement:
10
11 MR. RAMPTON: The bottom of page 1.
12
13 MR. MORRIS: Continuing to read:
14
15 "4. There are many causes of tropical deforestation,
16 including logging, cattle ranching, shifting cultivation,
17 transmigration, mining and infrastructure developments and
18 fuel collection. The impact of development pressures like
19 these varies from country to country."
20
21 Just one question on that: In McDonald's letter of 1982,
22 which was tab 9 in the pink bundle, talking about
23 deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon between 1976 and
24 1975, Elizabeth Densmore says:
25
26 "Highway construction resulted in a loss of 25 per cent of
27 the Brazilian Amazon while cattle ranching contributed to
28 another 38 per cent."
29
30 I presume it is 25 per cent and 38 per cent of the
31 deforestation that took place?
32 A. It is, yes, and that is ----
33
34 Q. Are those percentages correct? Of the deforestation that
35 took place, about 38 per cent in that period was caused by
36 the cattle ranching?
37 A. Those are Brazilian Government figures.
38
39 Q. Right?
40 A. Some of them are referred to in paragraph 4.2.
41
42 Q. I am sorry.
43
44 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Why do you not read on. What might be a good
45 idea is, subject to anything which Mr. Secrett wants to
46 interject, see if you cannot get through the statement
47 before 1 o'clock. We will adjourn then. When we come back
48 at 2 you can ask any supplementary questions you want to.
49
50 MR. MORRIS: Thank you very much.
51
52 "4.1. The expansion of pasture and cropland has been the
53 driving development pressure on topical forest areas in
54 Central American nations, including Guatemala and Costa
55 Rica. It has been estimated that more than one quarter of
56 all Central American forests have been destroyed since 1960
57 to produce beef. 85 to 95 per cent of which went to the
58 United States: This represents less than 2 per cent of
59 total US beef consumption, but has a devastating effect on
60 Central American forests. ('Topical Moist Forests: The
