Day 058 - 30 Nov 94 - Page 45
1 earlier. The majority" and then it goes on, "By the same
2 reason forestry is the primary course for species being
3 threatened."
4 A. Yes, I think it is a little difficult to say. That is
5 a fair interpretation that the industry accept that itself
6 because, in fact, a high proportion of endangerment of
7 species at the level of extinction or near extinction
8 applies outside the forestry area. The Ministry of
9 Environment did its analysis and presented in its own
10 particular way, but I am in possession of considerable
11 analyses carried out by the forest industry in the process
12 of actually applying themselves to dealing with the
13 issues. They have not just sat back to defend themselves.
14 They have, in fact, since these reports have been published
15 been very active in setting aside forest land with
16 government support and, at the same time, addressing the
17 issues within both the privately owned forests and the
18 State owned forests of Finland.
19
20 Q. Can I just suggest that all those documents that I
21 have managed to get photocopies of we could put behind
22 Mr. Hopkins' statement? It might be a good idea.
23
24 MR. JUSTICE BELL: The ones you have handed up to me?
25
26 MR. MORRIS: Today, yes.
27
28 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
29
30 THE WITNESS: May I respond in one particular respect to the
31 particular approach to Finland in this, and say that in
32 regard to mammals that are on the list of endangered
33 species within that country, 11 per cent of known mammals
34 in Finland are on the list, but in the other countries
35 Britain has 31 per cent of known animals on its list,
36 France has 53 per cent and Germany has 47 per cent of known
37 mammals on that list, because it includes very large
38 numbers of lists of animals which are in need monitoring,
39 and monitoring is not the same thing as endangerment.
40
41 MR. MORRIS: That, presumably, is the first stage?
42 A. It is the first stage of awareness that there is an
43 ecological change taking place which could equally be a
44 natural change in the process of the natural selection of
45 species as any other intrusion.
46
47 My Lord, I could go on, there are 14 birds threatened in
48 Finland and that is all compared with 132 in France and 63
49 in the United Kingdom. The statistics have to be analysed
50 for more deeply than the figures that have been presented
51 in court to me today. Certainly, if you want further
52 information on this, it is available. I was not expecting
53 to be asked this.
54
55 Q. I am not suggesting that Finland is worse than other
56 countries because I do not know -- that may or may not be
57 the case -- I am just saying that the problem of forest
58 management in Finland is leading to environmental problems,
59 for example, with threatened species which is recognised by
60 the Ministry of Environment, so that is fair comment?
