XN000022-1994-02-22 — Page 18

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1994

WORKSHOP ON TROPICAL HARDWOODS

A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP AND CONFERENCE ON TROPICAL HARDWOODS WILL BE HELD AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY), STARTING AT 9.30 AM.

BEEN

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ENTITLED "TROPICAL HARDWOODS; A TIME TO ACT" THE WORKSHOP HAS COMMISSIONED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ORGANISED BY ITS INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (ERM) HONG KONG.

THE WORKSHOP SERVES AS A FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AND TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG'S ROLE IN DETERMINING THE FUTURE OF TROPICAL HARDWOOD FORESTS, AND HOW HONG KONG CAN IMPROVE MATTERS ECOLOGICALLY WHILE ALSO GROWING ECONOMICALLY.

"THE WORKSHOP REPRESENTS THE CULMINATION OF A THREE-MONTH STUDY INTO THE SOURCES, USES, AND METHOD OF DISPOSAL OF TROPICAL HARDWOOD TIMBER IN THE TERRITORY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.

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OR

THE STUDY IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE A DEFINITIVE STRATEGY MASTERPLAN FOR HONG KONG WITH REGARD TO THE ISSUE, BUT MERELY TO CLARIFY THE FACTS AND SUGGEST POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES.

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THE GOAL IS NOT TO STOP LOGGING, BUT RATHER TO ENCOURAGE THE BEST POSSIBLE PRACTICES IN PRODUCING AND USING TIMBER, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE COSTS AND BENEFITS TO LOCAL, NATIONAL AND GLOBAL SOCIETIES WITH RESPECT TO BOTH THE LONG AND SHORT-TERM ISSUES.

"IN ACHIEVING THIS, WE MUST CONSIDER HONG KONG'S ROLE USE OF TROPICAL HARDWOOD TIMBER, AND WHAT WE MIGHT ACHIEVE CAREFUL AND DETERMINED ACTION.

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IN THE THROUGH

SIMILARLY, THE WORKSHOP IS NOT INTENDED TO CREATE ONE SINGLE SOLUTION, NOR IS IT MEANT TO LAY BLAME OR CREATE HOSTILITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

RATHER ITS PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS CAN BE EXCHANGED AND SOLUTIONS DEVELOPED, HE ADDED.

FORUM WHERE

THE WORKSHOP WOULD BRING TOGETHER KEY PLAYERS FROM BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY, WHO USE HARDWOOD TIMBER, TO BEGIN A DIALOGUE.

THE OUTCOME OF THE DIALOGUE WOULD DETERMINE THE FORM AND EXTENT OF FUTURE ACTIONS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF TIMBER EXTRACTION ON THE FAST DEPLETING TROPICAL RAINFORESTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE WORKSHOP WILL BE CHAIRED BY DR JUSTIN STEAD, AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

BEFORE BECOMING A CONSULTANT, HE WORKED FOR THE OXFORD FORESTRY INSTITUTE, SHELL INTERNATIONAL PETROLEUM AND SIAR BOSSARD.

DR STEAD ALSO HAS WORK EXPERIENCE IN MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES, SPECIALISING IN THE TROPICAL FOREST AREAS OF LATIN AND SOUTH AFRICA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA.

AMERICA,

/AS A