ots.Audio: "Convention on Biodiversity" in Bonn, Germany: Rolling Stones Keyboardist Chuck Leavell supports Sustainable Management of German Forests

Friedrichsdorf (ots) -

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German Forest Owners Association (AGDW) drives sustainable forest
management / Protection of species and habitat to maintain
biodiversity has been integrated in German forestry making German
wood an environment-friendly resource

"Use it or lose it" - that's the credo of Rolling Stones
keyboardist and forest owner Chuck Leavell, who has been promoting
sustainable forest management around the globe for years. The
musician will convey his belief that only sustainably managed forests
maintain biodiversity to the delegates of the UN Convention on
Biological Diversity at a concert on 18 May 2008 in Bonn, Germany. He
supports the German Forest Owners Association (AGDW). This
organisation has been driving the integration of the protection of
species and habitats in sustainable forest management for years. By
now, there is no forest in Germany that is not managed according to
the principles of sustainability which makes wood from Germany an
environment-friendly resource.

The objective of Chuck Leavell's global commitment is to reconcile
environmentalists and forest owners. He is convinced that both
parties are actually trying to achieve the same aim: to maintain and
protect the natural diversity of species and ecosystems. Chuck
Leavell explains the forest owner's point of view: "I think it is
important for all of us to realize the true diversity we have in our
different forest systems, whether it is in Germany or in America or
in Canada. If we begin to loose just one or some of the many
different insect species, animal species and plant species then we're
taking things out of balance and I think we're in danger loosing the
system itself. So it is important to do all we can to maintain this
wonderful diversity in our forests."

And that is why environmentalists and forest owners should focus
their energies and pool their resources rather than fight about how
to reach the common objective. Especially since surveys confirm that
sustainably managed deciduous and mixed forests are the habitat for a
similar number of species as forest that are strictly protected.
Furthermore, responsibly managed forests have the distinct advantage
that they are significantly more robust and healthy.

"I think it is important to watch natural processes in the forests
and try to integrate as much as possible into an ecological forest
management plan," says Chuck Leavell. "Economy and ecology are two
sides of the same coin. And they go hand in hand together. I think we
need to give our forest landowners the tools that they need to
maintain this wonderful biodiversity within our forest systems."

In Germany, environmental protection has successfully been
integrated in forest management for years as the owners also have a
commercial interest in healthy forests. Without exception, all
forests are managed according to the principles of sustainable
development which were defined 200 years ago by a German forester.
This means diverse, stable mixed forests with tree species native to
the region are grown and that only the amount of wood which can grow
back again under the regional climate and soil conditions is
harvested. Environmental protection principles and state-of-the art
technology are also employed when it comes to harvesting - the
responsible and cautious treatment of the ecosystem has top priority.
Wood produced in Germany is therefore always environment-friendly and
sustainable.

Originaltext: Hessischer Waldbesitzer Verband e.V.
Digitale Pressemappe: http://www.presseportal.de/pm/67765
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Contact:
Hessischer Waldbesitzerverband e.V.
Taunusstraße 151, 61381 Friedrichsdorf, Germany
Christian Raupach
Phone: 06172-7047
Fax: 06172-599253
E-Mail: info@hesswald.de / www.hesswald.de

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