Day 056 - 28 Nov 94 - Page 32


     
     1        we have in this country compared with the period after the
     2        First World War), our forests are now becoming mature and,
     3        therefore, as the years pass there will be more and more
     4        mature trees than ever before.
     5
     6   Q.   I was talking about over mature trees.
     7        A.  Over mature trees will be less in need of being used in
     8        all forest resources as the whole programme of Silvi
     9        cultural management around the world brings about mature
    10        plantation of forest.  The pressure will be taken off
    11        existing forest and, therefore, off the old mature trees in
    12        old growth forests, as you described them earlier.
    13
    14   Q.   Maybe I am not putting the question correctly.  If I just
    15        put it to you in bare terms so that you know what I am
    16        trying to say:  I would say, forgetting the economic
    17        benefits of over mature trees, there are ecological
    18        benefits of over mature trees which we talked about a bit
    19        earlier, yes, and plantations, except may be in certain
    20        specific examples which you mentioned, say, Finland or
    21        whatever, where they are used for economic plants such as
    22        seedlings, type of thing, in general, the aim of
    23        plantations is to established trees to maturity and then
    24        log them, forget all the thinning and that kind of stuff,
    25        that is the general aim.  So, the plantation forest, in
    26        general, with maybe some exceptions will not include the
    27        ecological benefits of over mature trees; would you say
    28        that is a fair comment?
    29        A.  If one puts it the other way around again and says that
    30        an over mature tree can provide certain ecological benefits
    31        to particular species of bird and particular species of
    32        fungus and the like, yes, it is correct to say that an over
    33        mature tree provides a particular form of ecological
    34        benefit.  It is not correct to say that plantation forests
    35        provide no ecological benefits.
    36
    37   Q.   No, I did not say that; I just say it does not provide that
    38        particular ---
    39        A.  It does not provide that particular benefit.
    40
    41   Q.   -- characteristic that the over-mature trees would provide
    42        the forest?
    43        A.  Right, and where there has been an identifiable loss of
    44        biodiversity, good Silvi cultural management will seek to
    45        counter balance that, and that is one of the reasons why
    46        trees are now being left in considerable abundance in
    47        forests that are well-managed.
    48
    49   Q.   So the environmental loss from the routine cutting down or
    50        preventing the establishment of over-mature trees in 
    51        plantation forests is now recognised and being compensated, 
    52        is that what you say? 
    53        A.  I think the specific examples are the only way in which
    54        one can properly answer this.  In areas where there has
    55        been an identifiable loss of a particular species, then in
    56        those areas the planning and management of the forest has
    57        included the leaving of old trees where that is directly
    58        relevant.  Certainly, this has progressed considerably over
    59        the years as a technique of managing forests.
    60

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