Day 058 - 30 Nov 94 - Page 52


     
     1        in general?
     2        A.  Mr. Morris, would you again refer me to where you are?
     3
     4   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Top of your page 15.
     5
     6   MR. MORRIS:  Page 15.
     7        A.  The question?
     8
     9   Q.   The second sentence: "The two main considerations are the
    10        effect of harvesting and the impact of new planting".  Are
    11        they the two main problems as regards the causation of soil
    12        erosion?
    13        A.  They are the two relevant issues to soil erosion, is to
    14        how the harvesting is conducted and how the planting of new
    15        trees is carried through.
    16
    17   Q.   Would it be fair to say that if they are not done your
    18        position would be, if they are not done carefully and
    19        responsibly with environmental considerations taken on
    20        board, they would cause problems in terms of soil erosion?
    21        A.  Yes.  My statement goes on to refer to the limited
    22        effect that thinning is likely to have and the need when
    23        getting on to clear felling of care to be taken.  The use
    24        of mats made up of the tops of trees is a very sensible way
    25        of ensuring that the soil is not broken up.  You have
    26        already pointed out that in replanting if damage is done to
    27        the soil, replanting will not be successful.
    28
    29   Q.   Would it be fair to say that in many countries these
    30        problems of soil erosion that have been caused by
    31        harvesting and new planting, are now on the agenda for
    32        improvement?
    33        A.  Yes.  I think we would have to say that everywhere
    34        forestry is not just a practice or a science; it is
    35        something which is evolved, better trained foresters,
    36        better experienced in the use of machinery and there have
    37        been very considerable developments.  I make in that same
    38        paragraph a statement that limiting major extraction
    39        operations to either very dry conditions or hard frozen
    40        periods of the year is a practice of very great advantage
    41        when it comes to the replacement of the forest by
    42        regeneration.
    43
    44   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is there a problem of soil erosion in any of
    45        the forest areas from which, so far as you are aware, pulp
    46        comes for packaging which may be used by McDonald's?
    47        A.  I would not accept, my Lord, for it to be any different
    48        from any other situation.  If trees for any reason are
    49        being extracted from vulnerable areas like the hillside,
    50        very steep hillside, erosion is a possibility.  I do not 
    51        think it is relevant to ---- 
    52 
    53   Q.   That is precisely why I asked whether it is a problem in
    54        any of these areas; not problem in the sense you have to be
    55        careful to avoid, but something which has occurred so that
    56        it is a problem in that sense.
    57        A.  Again, if we take the areas, for example, Sweden and
    58        Finland which are very relatively lowland and very few
    59        steep areas with that kind of problem, except on coastal
    60        areas, I would find it very surprising if there was any

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