Vol. 470 No. 5
19 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will support an end to the importation of tropical timber and favour the use of timber grown as locally as possible with the objective of reducing fuel consumption in transportation as well as protecting the last remaining tropical forests which are the home of many tribal people and millions of species of plants and animals. [18821/96]
Part of Ireland's forestry policy is to increase the planting of temperate hardwoods or broadleaves, which can substitute for tropical imports. Broadleaves currently account for about 16 per cent of the forest estate and broadleaf planting has increased significantly from 3 to 4 per cent some years ago to 20 per cent in 1995. This target level is maintained in the Strategic Plan for the Development of the Forestry Sector, under which an afforestation programme will continue up to the year 2030. I am obviously anxious to promote, wherever possible, import substitution in this area in the interests of employment and wealth creation in Ireland.
Trade in tropical timber is a complex matter. Tropical timber is the developing countries' third most important commodity after petroleum and coffee; trade is not the major cause of damage to tropical forests; and the sustainable management of all such forests is not something which can be achieved overnight, even with countries' best efforts. Trade is also subject to WTO rules and a ban or restriction imposed unilaterally by a contry or by the European Union on imports of tropical timber as suggested would be inconsistent with them.
