Day 073 - 13 Jan 95 - Page 13
1 Q. Read that out and comment.
2 A. "Management and forest plantations. Although it is
3 recognised that an increasing emphasis on managed forest is
4 necessary to protect remaining ancient [sic] forests" -----
5
6 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Take this very slowly and read as clearly as
7 you can.
8
9 MR. RAMPTON: Would your Lordship like this copy? I have had a
10 glance at it.
11
12 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes, it would be helpful. Thank you.
13
14 MR. MORRIS: The material handed up is a letter from the author
15 of the report, Nigel Dudley, who was asked to provide
16 assistance to Mr. Hopkins in the preparation of this case.
17 He is confirming his view.
18 A. "Management and forest plantations. Although it is
19 recognised that an increasing emphasis on managed forest is
20 necessary to protect remain native forests, most current
21 forestry practices are environmentally damaging.
22 Plantations and intensively managed forests are creating a
23 change in the nature of forest type, narrowing variety in
24 both species and in genetic variation within species. An
25 increasing area is covered with conifer and eucalyptus
26 monoculture. Forest management also; destroys wildlife
27 habitats including" -----
28
29 MR. JUSTICE BELL: "Including by poorly managed afforestation"?
30 A. "Including ... poorly managed afforestation; increases
31 soil erosion and hydrological damage, including trapping
32 acid pollutants from the atmosphere; changes the balance of
33 fire in the system; increases pest and disease attack; and
34 results in large quantities of agrochemicals being used in
35 what were previously natural systems. Much modern forestry
36 is also very unsightly, and can create a range of social
37 problems if badly managed, and if local people are not
38 involved in the planning and execution of management
39 schemes."
40
41 MR. MORRIS: If you just continue for a couple more paragraphs?
42 A. "Paper and pulp"?
43
44 Q. Yes. Then I will ask you for your views overall. Maybe if
45 you give your view on that last paragraph first. Is that
46 something you would agree with?
47 A. I agree with it absolutely, yes. I mean, it sums up to
48 a great extent what I have said in my larger body of
49 evidence.
50
51 I will go on to "Paper and pulp production": "Paper and
52 pulp production. The world market for pulp has increased
53 by five times over the last forty years and it is now the
54 major use of timber from intensively managed forests and
55 plantations. Pulp is important both because of the total
56 area of forest required and due to the highly polluting
57 milling and bleaching processes, which release both air
58 pollutants and highly toxic dioxin into water, causing
59 damage to health and forcing the abandonment of fisheries
60 in some areas".
