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WORLDWIDE
FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS
ACTION
ALERT: Protect Snow Leopard Habitat in Siberia
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Forest Networking a Project of Forests.org
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Conservation
05/04/00
OVERVIEW
& COMMENTARY
Russian
environmental organizations are requesting international
support
for their efforts to protect the Ukok Plateau in southern
Siberia
-- critical habitat for the snow leopard and several other
endangered
species. Siberian government leaders
are moving to
construct
a road and gas pipeline through the World Heritage Site and
into
China, when a suitable and existing route exists. Please respond
to this
important action alert from Global Response.
g.b.
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RELAYED
TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Protect Snow Leopard Habitat / Siberia
GR Action Alert #3/00
May-June 2000
Source: Global Response Quick Response Network
P.O. Box 7490
Boulder CO, USA 80306-7490
Phone: 303/444-0306
Fax: 303/449-9794
http://www.globalresponse.org
Status: Copyright 2000, contact source for
permission to reprint
Date: May 4, 2000
"Building
a road and pipeline through the Ukok Plateau will drive a
stake
through the heart of an area that nature lovers, the Altai and
other
indigenous peoples hold sacred. It will
be the end of the
Ukok."
--Mikhail
Shishin, President, Fund for 21st Century Altai (Russia)
Russian
environmental organizations are calling for international
support
in their campaign to protect the Ukok Plateau in southern
Siberia.
This
high plateau provides critical habitat for one of the least
studied
large predators in the world, the snow leopard, and many other
endangered
species including the argali mountain sheep, dzeren
antelope,
black stork and steppe eagle. Its
remarkable biodiversity
is due
to its complete sequence of altitudinal vegetation zones from
steppe,
forest-steppe, mixed forest, sub-alpine vegetation to alpine
vegetation. The plateau is the source of major rivers
that flow into
Russia,
Mongolia, Kazakhstan and China.
Archaeological remains are of
great
scientific interest, especially since the discovery of a
mummified
Scythian "princess" in 1996.
Much of the plateau is sacred
to the
indigenous Altai people.
The
Ukok Plateau's unique combination of biological diversity and
cultural
value gained world recognition in 1998 when UNESCO's World
Heritage
Commission included the plateau in the Golden Mountains of
Altai
World Heritage site. Within the Altai
Republic (political
division
similar to a state in the USA), the Ukok Plateau is protected
as a
"Quiet Zone," where economic development is prohibited.
These
designations are being completely ignored by Siberian government
officials. In March 2000, the "Siberian Accord,"
an association of
Siberian
government leaders, voted to approve road and gas pipeline
construction
through the World Heritage Site and across the pristine
Ukok
Plateau "Quiet Zone" into China.
Russian
scientists and environmental organizations were quick to
protest
this plan. In December 1999 they wrote
a collective letter to
the
"Siberian Accord," pointing out that the road/pipeline would
irreparably
damage the unique ecosystems and cultural heritage of the
Ukok
Plateau.
They
also warned that the project would incur enormous costs in both
construction
and maintenance, since it would go through highland
marshes,
tundra, permafrost areas and mountain passes at 2600 meters
elevation.
The
scientists and environmentalists recommend a much less destructive
alternative
route through Mongolia along existing roads.
The Siberian
Accord"
has given no response to this counter-proposal and has created
no
opportunity for public input concerning the road and pipeline
projects.
Requested
Action:
Russian
environmental organizations are proposing stronger legislation
to more
effectively protect the Ukok Plateau.
But first they need to
avert
the crisis posed by the "Siberian Accord" road and pipeline
project. They ask Global Response members to raise an
international
outcry
to prevent this project from destroying natural and cultural
treasures
of the Ukok Plateau.
****************************
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION:
The
Snow Leopard
Hunted
for their bones and fur and squeezed by intense human
population
growth, snow leopards are endangered throughout their
entire
range in the high mountains of Central Eurasia. Researchers
estimate
between 4,000 and 7,000 snow leopards remain in the wild.
Their
habitat is so rugged that sightings are rare, contributing to
the
mystery of these beautiful animals.
Only about 5% of snow
leopards'
geographic range is currently protected.
With a
thick coat to protect them from extreme cold and fur cushions
on their
feet to help them walk on snow and rocks, snow leopards are
well
adapted to their mountain environment.
Adults weigh between 60
and 120
pounds. Their fur varies from white to
cream to pale yellow
or
gray, sprinkled with bits of charcoal-gray or black. The thickly
furred
tail can be as long as the leopard's body; it provides balance
as the
leopard jumps and rushes after prey --
various kinds of sheep
and
goats, game birds, hares, pikas and marmots.
Central
Asian scientists regard the snow leopard as an "indicator
species"
-- one that indicates the general health of a particular
environment. Since the snow leopard lives at the top of
the food
chain,
if there are abundant and healthy snow leopards in an area, the
entire
local ecosystem is probably healthy, too.
International
campaigns to protect snow leopards and their habitat are
coordinated
by the International Snow Leopard Trust
(www.serv.net/islt/facts2.html),
Sacred Earth Network
(www.igc.org/sen/)
and the German Society for Nature Conservation
(NABU:
www.nabu.de/index.htm)
*******************
REQUESTED
ACTION:
Please
write a polite letter to Russian government officials.
Express
your awe and appreciation for the remarkable natural and
cultural
treasures of the Ukok Plateau and the Altai Mountains World
Heritage
Site.
Express
concern that pristine ecosystems, endangered species, sacred
sites
and archaeological treasures will suffer irreparable damage if
the
Siberian Accord brings industrialization to the region by building
a road
and gas pipeline across the Ukok Plateau into China.
Urge
Russian government agencies to conduct a full economic analysis
on the
need, justification and costs of building the road and
pipeline,
clearly identifying the economic, social and environmental
impacts
and benefits of the project for local communities.
Urge
decision-makers to choose an alternate route for the new road and
pipeline,
for example one following existing roads through Mongolia to
China.
ADDRESSES:
Victor
Ivanovich Danilov-Danilyan
Chair,
State Committee of Russian Federation for Environment
Protection
4/6
B.Gruzinskaya Str.
GSP
Moscow 123812 Russia
Fax #
+7(095)2546824
Semen
Ivanovich Zubakin
Head,
Altai Republic Government
16
Kirov Str.
Gorno-Altaisk
649000 Russia
Fax#
+7(38822)95121
Vladimir
Ivankov, General Director
Inter-Regional
Association Siberian Accord ul. Uritskogo 19
630099
g. Novosibirsk
Russia
Email: root@sibsogl.nsk.su
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This
Global Response Action was issued in support of and with
information
provided by The Fund for 21st Century Altai <katun@ab.ru>;
Pacific
Environment and Resources Center (www.pacificenvironment.org);
Sacred
Earth Network (www.igc.org/sen/) and International Snow Leopard
Trust
(www.serv.net/islt/facts2.html).
*********************
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