§ 54. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the growth and conservation of tropical timber resources; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Government's commitment to the wise use and replenishment of the world's tropical forests has been made clear on many occasions, most recently by myself during questions on 3 November 1986, at column 686. They already support forest management projects in rain forest zones through the aid programme and are ready to consider further proposals. The Government have also given their support to the Food and Agriculture Organisation's tropical forestry action plan, which is providing a valuable framework for the co-ordination of programmes and policies of donor and aid recipient countries.
The Government ratified the international tropical timber agreement in 1984 and are a member of the related Tropical Timber Organisation, which was established in 1986. One of the principal functions of this organisation is to seek to encourage the development of the trade in tropical hardwoods on the basis of sustainable and renewable resources.