Talks with Dutch Government about timber exports successful

Environment Minister Bob Pearce says talks with the Dutch Government in support of Western Australia's hardwood timber exports have been well received.

Mr Pearce has held urgent talks in Holland after proposed timber sales, worth an estimated $6 million were threatened by conservationists' claims that WA's timber harvest was unsustainable.

"These claims are, of course, unfounded and threaten our entire hardwood export industry to Europe," Mr Pearce said.

"This means future jobs and chances to promote value-adding for our timber products are also at risk."

Mr Pearce said Dutch officials had welcomed the opportunity to learn about WA's forest management first hand when CALM's executive director, Dr Syd Shea, addressed a technical seminar earlier in the week.

"The Netherlands Government is developing a policy to ensure that only products from tropical rainforests managed on a sustainable basis are used in their country," Mr Pearce said.

"This is a commendable proposal and I have assured the officials I have met that WA has nothing to fear from such a policy.

"In fact, work already done by CALM and the Australian Heritage Commission means there is potential for us to help the Dutch determine their sustainability criteria."

Mr Pearce said he had invited Dutch officials to visit WA to exchange information on nature conservation management.

He said WA already had a significant Dutch connection in nature conservation through Shell's interests in the joint WAPET/CALM 'Desert Dreaming' project to relocate mammals, now extinct on the mainland, to the Gibson Desert.

Mr Pearce said he expected exports of WA hardwoods to continue while the Dutch developed their sustainable timber policy.

"A very positive sign of the benefits of this visit has been that some new orders for karri have already been received from Dutch companies."

Mr Pearce will now travel to France to discuss the problem of toxic waste disposal with French authorities.