Day 058 - 30 Nov 94 - Page 47
1 are aware of the fact that a number of species are
2 threatened by standardised and highly mechanised forestry".
3 Would you agree that they have identified that the
4 threats are caused by standardised and highly mechanised
5 forest, the threats to the species?
6 A. I think one has to say that the process of
7 mechanisation in itself is no greater than the fact that
8 you are using heavy machinery through a forest as opposed
9 to individuals running through with chainsaws, and that by
10 the very change in practice one needs to take into account
11 the effects that that is likely to have. As now more and
12 more of the forest, even in countries where ownership is in
13 small patches, as I have been explaining, 30 hectares at a
14 time, they are, nevertheless, using mechanical processes
15 which they were not using 10 years ago. What this
16 recognises is that those mechanical processes can have an
17 effect on the environment. The process of education
18 introduced by the National Board of Forestry is very
19 relevant to dealing with that changing situation.
20
21 Q. In the third paragraph it is talking about this campaign,
22 it says "during the last three years"?
23 A. Correct.
24
25 Q. So it is a recent campaign, is it, as far as you
26 understand?
27 A. Inevitably, with the progression that is going right
28 through all countries now to ensure that forests are
29 managed on a very broadly environmental and economic basis,
30 this is the progression, and this is the stage which they
31 have reached. They are actually putting into effect the
32 things that earlier on you were asking about the decisions
33 made, now they are putting them into effect.
34
35 Q. Right. If we go on to page 14 of your statement, in the
36 first paragraph on page 14, in the middle of the paragraph,
37 you say: "While ancient and long established woodlands
38 represent the most valuable and irreplaceable habitats for
39 wildlife and are therefore set aside in National Forests,
40 forest parks" etc. "they are not alone in providing a home
41 and a source of nutrition for wildlife." So, there is a
42 recognition there of the irreplaceable value for wildlife
43 habitats for natural and long established woodlands; is
44 that correct?
45 A. I think there is a recognition that if all ancient
46 woodland were removed and converted into industrial land or
47 agricultural or any other purposes taking it out of
48 forestry, it would be an ecological disaster. I do not
49 think any forester would have any question of that and nor
50 would they ever have done.
51
52 Q. Then you say in the next paragraph: "Recently planted
53 forests are immature ecosystems and have lower levels of
54 biodiversity". Do you mean recently established
55 plantations or are you just talking about the fact that
56 they have only got a year's growth or five-years growth or
57 are you just talking about recently established mature
58 plantations?
59 A. My Lord, I would like to answer that in two ways;
60 firstly, to say that it must be apparent that as you go
