Day 058 - 30 Nov 94 - Page 32
1 is going on in either of those two regions one might be
2 looking at is something which is nature's own achievement.
3 Man's intrusion on this can be one of the influences but
4 there can be very many other influences upon it.
5
6 Q. Yes, OK. Again this is a something that has cropped up a
7 few times: "The replacement of arable farmland" -- this is
8 in paragraph 4 -- "by trees will usually result in
9 increased biodiversity". Again, that maybe a criticism of
10 the lack of diversity on arable farmland; is that correct?
11 A. But it may also be looked upon as one of the advantages
12 of increasing our forest area in our own country.
13
14 Q. It depends what it is being compared to?
15 A. Yes, of course.
16
17 Q. This is in your third to last paragraph: " ... as knowledge
18 about endangered species has improved, additional large
19 areas have been set aside as nature reserves". Are the
20 nature reserves considered to be protective of biodiversity
21 and ecological concerns?
22 A. I think the nature reserves that have been set aside
23 are not just set aside, they are also managed to encourage
24 the biodiversity in those areas, yes, most certainly.
25
26 Q. As opposed to commercial plantations, being in comparison
27 to commercial plantations?
28 A. I think anything that is set aside as an SSSI or in any
29 other way as a nature reserve is going to have a degree of
30 protection which would not apply to a commercial forest
31 area to the same extent. That does not mean that the
32 commercial forest area is by its very existence having a
33 major effect on the natural diversity of that area.
34
35 Q. I have something from Sweden before we move on from
36 Sweden. I have copies of it actually. I want to show it
37 to you. Do you know what Skogsindustrierna is?
38 A. Mmm.
39
40 Q. Yes. If I could hand one to the Judge. I am sorry it has
41 markings on it, but it is the best I can do. (Handed)
42 There is a second document that relates to Finland; that
43 first one relates to Sweden. Actually, while I am handing
44 in documents, I have a list of all Mr. Hopkins' references
45 here. Could you just tell us what Skogsindustrierna is?
46 A. Skogsindustrierna is their industry, forest industry
47 organisation. Sweden has the Swedish Pulp & Paper
48 Association are involved in it and so is the Forest Growing
49 Industry involved in it.
50
51 Q. So that would be equivalent to what in this country? The
52 Timber Trade Federation?
53 A. No, it would be equivalent to the -- well, probably the
54 Forestry Industry Committee of Great Britain is the nearest
55 thing because that combines the Timber Growers Association
56 with those who are in the sawmilling industry as well.
57
58 Q. This is press briefing from October 20th, 1992. "This is
59 how biodiversity in the forest will be preserved" is the
60 title. If you just read it to yourself for a minute?
