LETTER : Wood wisdom

To practise landscape conservation at home and import timber from other parts of the world ("Nasty trees but let's keep them", 18 August) is a modern form of colonialism, which genuine environmentalists should campaign against.

There is a way between clear-cutting and total woodland conservation. Modern methods simultaneously support natural regeneration of native broad-leaved trees and lead to mixed woodlands with increased species diversity. These methods use selective felling which is economical; only the thickest trees are cut at the end of every cycle.

Roland Irslinger

University for Applied Forestry

Rottenburg, Germany