Day 056 - 28 Nov 94 - Page 12

     
     1        1987/88 onwards.  A great deal of environmental activity
     2        began in the mid-1980s.
     3
     4   Q.   That resulted in some kind of legal challenges, did it?
     5        A.  There were legal challenges in different parts of the
     6        country according to the particular issues raised.
     7
     8   Q.   I mean, I do not know much about those, but were those
     9        brought by environmental organisations?
    10        A.  They tended to be brought by environmental
    11        organisations who were organised so to do.  I mean, in
    12        other words, rather than by individuals, it was done by
    13        environmental groups.
    14
    15   Q.   Can you just give us a similar kind of timing for the other
    16        countries, just very briefly, Canada, if you know of
    17        course?
    18        A.  Canada has been deeply concerned about this and they
    19        have had conferences which they have organised
    20        internationally as well.  Their concerns were very much
         more West Coast concerns than anywhere else.  There have
    22        been relatively few matters raised by environmental groups
    23        on the eastern side of Canada, as far as forest issues are
    24        concerned.  They have been mostly do to with Western Canada
    25        and, therefore, the issues raised have been really
    26        concerning British Columbia rather than anywhere else.
    27
    28   Q.   So, is there an official government and industry position
    29        on sustainability and biodiversity as expressed in these
    30        statements?
    31        A.  Yes, there has within the last year, and that is the
    32        end of 1993 and the beginning of 1994, been an accord
    33        signed between a whole group of environmental organisations
    34        and both federal and regional governments relating to
    35        forestry.  That accord incorporates similar statements, the
    36        one from Helsinki on environmental responsibility.
    37
    38   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Does anyone have a copy of that?  When you
    39        say "an accord", is it several sheets of paper or one terse
    40        statement?
         A.  No, it is quite a long document, my Lord, which I do
    42        not have with me because the subject had not arisen -- but
    43        it can be obtained.
    44
    45   MR. MORRIS:  Again, the recognition of these principles, these
    46        Helsinki, or similar to Helsinki principles, do you know
    47        when Scandinavia or the specific countries in Scandinavia
    48        officially adopted those kinds of principles?
    49        A.  Well, the Scandinavian countries have been evolving
    50        their whole programme of forest management over many years, 
    51        and the principle by which they actually managed their 
    52        forests now, which is to mimic nature as much as possible, 
    53        have incorporated many environmental concerns for nature as
    54        well as for growth of timber.
    55
    56   Q.   This position on mimicking nature as much as possible, when
    57        was that adopted as kind of official, legal -----
    58        A.  I think it has been a definition in the last four or
    59        five years, but it has been their practice over many years
    60        before.  What they do in regenerating forest is allow as