Forestry

Abstract

‘It takes less than an hour to fell a tree. It can take a lifetime to replace it. If we are serious about sustainable development, we must show we are serious about sustainable forestry management.’ (Tony Blair, speaking at a special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, June 1997 — quoted in Reunala et al., 1999, p. 263. One might add that if it took any of the organizations where we conducted research anything approaching an hour to fell a tree, then they would be in serious trouble. This speech was probably not written by a forestry expert.)

We be the yeomen of this Forest

Under the Greenwood Tree

We live by the King’s decree

Other shift have not wee

And ye have churches and rents and full good plenty

Give us some of your spending

for Saint Charitie

(The Greenwood Tree, England, circa 1600 — one of the texts from which the modern legend of Robin Hood was ‘translated’ — see Schama, 1996, p. 151)