Day 284 - 22 Oct 96 - Page 34


     
     1        rainforest I am entitled to say, 'Well, pull the other
     2        one.'
     3
     4   MR. MORRIS:   Right.  Well, first of all, dry forest is not
     5        actually dry by the definition that we would use the term.
     6        I think it was described by one of our expert witnesses as
     7        typical temperate forest as we understand it such as we get
     8        in Sherwood Forest, or whatever, in the UK.  So it is not
     9        exactly parched, or whatever.  So anything, certainly
    10        anything above that, would be of a different character to
    11        what we would expect in Europe; above dry forest, in terms
    12        of humidity.  But on definitions we would say for certain
    13        all moist, wet and humid forest, including rain pre-montain
    14        rainforest or lower-montain rainforest, and whatever, would
    15        certainly come under this definition of rainforest because
    16        of the species which - I think the important thing is what
    17        are we concerned with here?  We are concerned about damage
    18        to biodiversity, soil erosion, we are concerned about
    19        ecological damage and also threats to native people,
    20        indigenous peoples.
    21
    22        But concentrating on the ecological damage, the point is,
    23        is ecological damage being caused to central America and
    24        Latin America forests and the question is, are they
    25        biodiverse, these forests?   And the answer is, they are.
    26        We have heard that Sarado, Dr. Ratta in his expert
    27        statement is extremely about -----
    28
    29   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Dr. Ratta in his statement, if I remember
    30        correctly, said it is unfortunate that all the attention
    31        paid to rainforest has made people not worry about the
    32        Sarado forest.  So he must be distinguishing between the
    33        two, must he not?  Just pause for a moment.  (Pause).  If
    34        it is going to take more than a minute, I would rather it
    35        waited until I have my five minute break.  I do not want
    36        the afternoon's hearing interrupted.
    37
    38   MS. STEEL:   If Mr. Morris carries on-----
    39
    40   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   I am not happy with that, it is a
    41        distraction, I am afraid.  You can have the five minute
    42        break now, if you want.  But we have to go on until about
    43        four or something.  Just hang on a minute.  Can you hang
    44        on?  What do you want to do?
    45
    46   MR. MORRIS:   I am sort of in mid flow.  If it is better to get
    47        this out of the way-----
    48
    49   MR JUSTICE BELL:  Can you wait for five minutes or so and help
    50        us out.  Come in and sit down if you want to.  Yes. 
    51 
    52   MR. MORRIS:   Yes, the point I am making is maybe the word 
    53        'sting' I have been using is a term of art which I was not
    54        aware of, but the concern in this fact sheet and by all the
    55        experts is the damage being done, in terms of ecological
    56        concern, to the biodiversity by the destruction of these
    57        forests.  So if it can be shown that the biodiversity of
    58        the Sarado is being damaged by cattle ranching, whatever
    59        the definition of rainforest or not, it is an important
    60        part of the equation.  In fact, it is impossible to

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