Plan to protect Yangtze dolphin stalls over fears about economy
Source: Xinhua |
August 14, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LITTLE progress has been made on a plan to protect endangered freshwater dolphins in the Yangtze River as authorities in Anqing City, Anhui Province, fear it will harm the local economy.
The plan, jointly created in 2007 by the Fishing Bureau of Anqing's Agricultural Commission, the World Widelife Fund (WWF) and the Institute of Hydrobiology with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, called for designating the Xijiang River, a tributary of the Yangtze, a reserve to accommodate the dolphins.
Only an estimated 1,000 dolphins remain and they are listed as one of the world's 12 most endangered animals, said Yu Daoping, a professor with the Life Science Institute of Anqing Normal School.
"If no effective moves are made to save them from environmental degradation caused by shipping and the construction of water conservancy projects, the species will be extinct within 15 years," Yu warned.
Conservationists originally planned to bring the dolphins to the Xijiang River, which is under the jurisdiction of Haikou Township.
However, there has been virtually no progress made within the past four years as the township refused to ratify the plan for fear that it might hamper the local economy, according to Zhou Jinyun, director of the Fishing Bureau of Anqing's Agricultural Commission.
Wang Wenyou, executive deputy chief of Haikou Township, said the township government had planned to develop the waters and its surrounding regions into an ecological park.
Refusing to reveal more details, Wang said the ecological park would involve an investment of 1.5 billion yuan (US$234.74).
But residents are worried about the plan. Li Qingzhong, a farmer from the township's Zhenjiang village, said "if the Yangtze River dolphins move in, we can no longer go fishing or swim in the river. Business development would also be limited."
Conservationists have made efforts to raise public awareness and attract the attention of the government.
Volunteer Chu Chuanhui said: "We must rescue the Yangtze River dolphins and prevent them from encountering the same fate as the white fin dolphins."
White fin dolphins are considered "functionally extinct" and have not been seen in the river since 2006.
The plan, jointly created in 2007 by the Fishing Bureau of Anqing's Agricultural Commission, the World Widelife Fund (WWF) and the Institute of Hydrobiology with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, called for designating the Xijiang River, a tributary of the Yangtze, a reserve to accommodate the dolphins.
Only an estimated 1,000 dolphins remain and they are listed as one of the world's 12 most endangered animals, said Yu Daoping, a professor with the Life Science Institute of Anqing Normal School.
"If no effective moves are made to save them from environmental degradation caused by shipping and the construction of water conservancy projects, the species will be extinct within 15 years," Yu warned.
Conservationists originally planned to bring the dolphins to the Xijiang River, which is under the jurisdiction of Haikou Township.
However, there has been virtually no progress made within the past four years as the township refused to ratify the plan for fear that it might hamper the local economy, according to Zhou Jinyun, director of the Fishing Bureau of Anqing's Agricultural Commission.
Wang Wenyou, executive deputy chief of Haikou Township, said the township government had planned to develop the waters and its surrounding regions into an ecological park.
Refusing to reveal more details, Wang said the ecological park would involve an investment of 1.5 billion yuan (US$234.74).
But residents are worried about the plan. Li Qingzhong, a farmer from the township's Zhenjiang village, said "if the Yangtze River dolphins move in, we can no longer go fishing or swim in the river. Business development would also be limited."
Conservationists have made efforts to raise public awareness and attract the attention of the government.
Volunteer Chu Chuanhui said: "We must rescue the Yangtze River dolphins and prevent them from encountering the same fate as the white fin dolphins."
White fin dolphins are considered "functionally extinct" and have not been seen in the river since 2006.
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