Trevor Sargent
Question:50 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to restrict the importation of tropical hardwoods into this country.
Written Answers. - Tropical Hardwoods Importation.
I have no plans to restrict the importation of tropical hardwoods.
While I share the concerns of many people throughout the world at loss of tropical forest, it is important to appreciate that the issue is a complex one and is not amenable to simple solutions. It is estimated, for example, that international demand for and trade in tropical hardwoods accounts for only 20 per cent of felling. Land clearance for farming is the major contributory factor to the felling of this trees. It is also vital to have regard to the particular social and economic circumstances of the peoples who live in tropical forest areas in addressing the issue of tropical deforestation.
The best prospect for achieving progress in this area lies in international co-operation, where Irerland, in concert with other consuming countries and with the producers of tropical hardwoods, can play its part in finding workable approaches to the problem. This already occurs within the framework of the EC and UN-related organisations such as the International Tropical Timber Organisation — ITTO. Ireland can much more usefully contribute towards a solution to this problem by involvement in such multilateral approaches which reflect the reality and dimensions of the issue itself, than by taking unilateral actions which would have little or no practical effect.