LIVERPOOL.- A massive conference table surrounded by 12 chairs created from driftwood by British furniture maker / artist Silas Birtwistle promotes conservation of the world’s seas, oceans and forests. He travelled to Belize, Vancouver Island, Tanzania and Borneo to gather materials for his artwork A Table from the Sea’s Edge which highlights coastal and marine biodiversity.

Among those who have sat at the table are actor Harrison Ford and politicians Tony Blair and Boris Johnson. The artwork reflects international concerns about threats to the environment from global warming, pollution, population and other factors. The table is set to tour the globe and its first residency is in Liverpool at World Museum.

Silas says: "I collected the driftwood from the four corners of the world with help from indigenous communities and local environmental non-governmental organisations, most notably the WWF (World Wildlife Fund). The table symbolises the meeting between land and sea, connections between human land-based activities and the coastal and marine environment, the links between cultures and the need for dialogue and agreement between countries to ensure the protection of biodiversity.”

A Table from the Sea’s Edge, created to celebrate International Year of Biodiversity 2010, is promoting International Year of Forests 2011. The Forest Stewardship Council is taking the artwork to a number of cities around the world to promote International Year of Forests 2011.

The table and chairs were exhibited in 2010 at the historic United Nations meeting on Biodiversity at Nagoya Japan. They were used by delegates to sign a number of important global agreements on conservation strategy.

Maersk Line UK says: “Maersk Line UK has supported this project by transporting the collected driftwood and then the completed table and chairs on our ships, to different locations for the artist. As one of the world’s largest shipping companies, we are committed to reducing our environmental and climate impact –and A Table from the Sea’s Edge is a unique and memorable way to highlight environmental issues and the importance of the world’s coastal and marine biodiversity.”