On 30 June 1995, Takehito Nagashima wrote: > Japan is said to be a country of tree, but now result of so much devloping, > we lost many forest. To me, Japanese are destructing so much environment that > we have to think about our mother earth again and we must make better forest- > policy. I'm not sure whether Nagashima was referring to forests in Japan or other countries. Which ever the case it is time for all people in positions of responsibility regarding forestry to assess what they can do to stop destruction of forests as soon as possible. The reason being that many native animals are being killed by loss of habitat and the environment is being altered whilst we do not know the consequences of that alteration. It is not just a case of species removal but whether any individual animal should die so that humans can use a piece of paper. (Sawlogs can come from plantations.) An example with which I am familiar is Tasmania where about 14,000 hectares are logged annually (mostly cleared). In the north of the state the majority (e.g. 8:1) of the tonnage of hauled timber goes to woodchip mills (e.g. North... and Boral...) from where it is shipped to Asian pulp mills (e.g. Mitsubishi in Japan). Over the last 20 years chipping companies together with the Tasmanian government and Forestry Tasmania have arranged extensive advertising in the media so that the population of Tasmania is compliant (overall) with clearing forests. The same state put a price on the head of the Thylacine (Tasmanain Tiger) resulting in its demise but now protects non-native rainbow trout. People who promote conservation in Tasmania are subjected to presure to cease doing so, in various forms of aggression, via anticonservation groups. These groups often have links with the woodchip companies. In Tasmania the anti-conservation ideas even influence the work of some members of the police force (although this influence is slowly being revealed and remedied). The clearing of forests can continue, the anti-social aggression can continue, and profits to share holders can contiue, for a while. Meanwhile people in positions of responsiblity will have conferences to debate about what areas of forests will be allowed to live or will be cleared. A large number of people are protesting against underground nuclear testing mainly because they believe it to be highly destructive. Clearing forests which take a minimum of 300 years to regrow (even if the same species, some endangered re-inhabit) is very destructive. It is only a difference of perception. The clearing could be stopped now by a change in "forest policy". (Details, references, referrals etc for the above statements I have issued are avialable upon reasonable request.) -- chris.dean@anu.edu.au, LPO Box 171, ANU, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. ----Native animals need protection from imported domesticated humans.---- Disclaimer: The ideas and data etc expressed above are mine and not necessarily those of anyone else.
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