Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Feb 1995

Vol. 448 No. 8

Written Answers. - Conservation of Rainforests.

Michael McDowell

Question:

58 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the support Ireland gives to international efforts to conserve the rainforests; the policy that Ireland pursues in relation to the importation of hardwoods extracted from rainforests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2948/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The destruction of tropical forests is one of today's major environmental issues. The issue is a complex one, however, and responses must also be multifaceted.

Trade is not the major cause of damage to tropical forests, as it accounts for only about 20 per cent of felling. The main cause is clearance for agriculture, aggravated by poverty, unequal land distribution, lack of access to credit and markets, and rising population pressure. Trade in tropical timber is also important to developing countries and is their third most important export commodity after petroleum and coffee. Unilateral action on restricting trade is also prevented by EU and GATT commitments.

Forests are a renewable natural resource and can be managed to produce timber and other products on a sustainable basis, but less than 1 per cent of tropical timber producing forests are currently managed on that basis, and many producer countries will not be able to achieve sustainability for some years yet.

Ireland does not have the resources to make major individual efforts in relation to the protection of tropical forests, and so we are concentrating on co-operation on an international level and on import substitution in the long term.

International co-operation has the advantage of its large scale, pooling of resources and expertise, and possibilities for co-operation and consultation with producers. This is vital if viable forests are to be protected and if trade in tropical timber is to be linked with sustainable management. The European Union plays an active role in the protection of tropical forests, for example:

— within the International Tropical Timber Organisation

— in conjunction with the FAO

— with the World Bank

— within the framework of UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio 1993), and

—through its funding of projects involving tropical forests.

and we will continue to play our part in future developments.

Part of our forestry policy is to increase the planting of temperate hardwoods or broadleaves, which will in the long term produce timber which can substitute for tropical imports. Our current national target for broadleaf planting is 20 per cent of all planting.