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September 17, 2018

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Saving Pacific reefs

New Caledonia is imposing tougher protections around a huge swathe of some of the world’s last near-pristine coral reefs, in a move conservationists have hailed as a major breakthrough.

The Pacific nation is home to a rich array of wildlife including 2.5 million seabirds and over 9,300 marine species, such as dugongs — marine mammals related to manatees — and nesting green sea turtles, many of which thrive in and around remote zones off the island nation’s coast.

The archipelago boasts some of the world’s healthiest reefs, including Astrolabe, Petrie, Chesterfield and Bellona, which are considered exceptional examples of coral ecosystems.

After years of work, the New Caledonian government voted to set up marine protected areas surrounding the reefs, and to strengthen an existing one around Entrecasteaux, which is already a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The move will see 28,000 square kilometers of waters safeguarded from commercial and industrial fishing and other exploitation, helping conserve habitats and allow marine life to feed and breed undisturbed.

Tourist activity around the reefs is also set to be more rigorously controlled.

“This is the kind of leadership we need to see in coral reef conservation and we applaud it,” said John Tanzer, the head of oceans for WWF International.

“With good management, these marine protected areas will help maintain fish populations and ecosystem health that will build the reefs’ resilience to the impacts of climate change in future.”

The MPAs fall within New Caledonia’s enormous 1.3 million-square-kilometer Coral Sea Natural Park, which was established in 2014 and covers the country’s entire exclusive economic zone.

Coral reefs, which only cover 0.1 percent of the ocean’s surface but support a quarter of known marine species, are on the decline globally, threatened by climate change, pollution and overfishing.

WWF estimates the world has already lost about half of its shallow water coral reefs.

(AFP)

Crows on litter patrol

Visitors to a theme park in western France have a new attraction to enjoy: six crows that have been specially trained to pick up cigarette ends and rubbish.

The birds have been in action since August 13 at the Puy du Fou park, picking up litter on the site that features shows and rides themed around different periods of history.

The black rooks, a member of the crow family, were chosen for their intelligence and have been trained to take small items of litter to a special wooden box in exchange for a tasty nugget of bird food for each deposit.

There have been some instances of cheating, however, with some of the crows attempting to steal rubbish from others to win the rewards.

“It’s ecological, it’s practical and it’s fun to see,” said Swiss tourist Dorothee Haefliger.

The managers of the park say the experiment is designed to make visitors more aware about litter.

(AFP)

Managing health, in style

The Original F.X. Mayr Retreat will open its new branch on Chongming Island in 2020, bringing its total properties to 30 worldwide.

In a tranquil atmosphere where you can really breathe, it provides customized integrated physical and mental health management products.

Precautionary health management, disease treatment and rehabilitation are on offer, particularly designed for treating chronic diseases.

F.X. Mayr Therapeutics has developed a unique method for early diagnosis and treatment of lifestyle diseases: detoxification and repair of the digestive system and human organs. Through large doses of detoxification and energy replenishment, the digestive system can resume its function, and the immune system can be rebuilt to restore the organs’ self-healing power.

(Shanghai Daily)

Dubai tourist growth slows

The number of foreigners visiting Dubai, the Gulf’s tourism hub, grew 0.5 percent in the first half of 2018, a substantially slower rate than the 10.6 percent growth recorded a year earlier, official date shows.

Dubai, which has spent billions building attractions including the world’s tallest tower, hosted 8.1 million international overnight tourists in the six months to June 30, the tourism department said.

It had previously reported 8.06 million tourists for the first half of 2017 which it said constituted an increase of 10.6 percent year on year.

The tourism sector was worth 109 billion dirham (US$29.7 billion) at the end of 2017, according to the tourism department.

Dubai is seeing a slowdown in some sectors such as real estate after years of strong growth.

India remained Dubai’s top overseas market in 2018, with the number of visitors from there rising 3 percent to over 1 million in the first six months — compared with an increase of 21 percent in Indian visitors a year earlier.

The number of Chinese and Russian visitors grew by 9 percent to 453,000 and 74 percent to 405,000, respectively.

(Reuters)

Shimao Star Hotels grows

Shimao Star Hotels Group will expand its portfolio and has signed 14 new hotels, executives said on its first anniversary.

The new hotels are in Changbai Mountain, Nanchang, Yangshuo, Kunming, Chengdu and Wuxi.

They offer business people innovative décor, tailor-made services and a special “inspired space.”

It has also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Xiamen University to build its intern base and train hotel management talent.

(Shanghai Daily)




 

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