From NALINM@AOL.COM Sun Jul 10 14:32:35 2005
Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2005 14:28:24 EDT
From: NALINM@AOL.COM
To: nathistory-india@Princeton.EDU
Subject: Asia - Large nature reserve proposed (China-Laos-Myanmar )


    [ Part 1, Text/PLAIN  40 lines. ]
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FWD - News about a proposed China-Laos-Myanmar Nature Reserve
 
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Botanist proposes "green triangle" cross-border nature reserve

    KUNMING, July 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Pei Shengji, a renowned botanist
in China, proposed here on Saturday that China should co-work with its
neighboring countries of Laos and Myanmar to establish a vast
cross-border nature reserve dubbed the "green triangle."

    In a sharp contrast to the notorious drug-producing "golden triangle"
in the region, the "green triangle" will help strengthen the protection
of the largest rain forest in Asia today, said Pei.

    Pei, who works for Kunming Botanical Research Institute affiliated to
the Chinese Academy of Sciences, first raised his proposal at a recent
international symposium on bio-diversity initiated by the Forestry
Department of Yunnan Province and British Fauna & Flora International.

    Currently in the border areas of China, Laos and Myanmar, thereare
seven natural reserves covering a total area of 50,000 square kilometers,
featuring extremely rich fauna and flora resources.

    The Province of Yunnan in southwest China, which borders Laos and
Myanmar, boasts rich forest and wildlife resources, especiallyin areas
like Xishuangbanna, Dawei Mountain, Watershed and Huanglian Mountain.

    "With the proposed "green triangle" nature reserve in place, wecan
not only maintain the biological integrity of this region, butalso
provide the wildlife with more habitats," said Pei. "Moreover, there will
be more joint efforts between the three governments to address problems
like poaching and forest fire."

    According to Pei, the time is now ripe for more international
cooperation in bio-diversity protection. "The three countries shared
similar cultures and are developing an increasingly active economic
cooperation, and they have all signed the Global Bio-diversity Protection
Protocol."

    Since the 1990s, China has been closely cooperating with its
neighboring countries such as Nepal, Vietnam and Myanmar in environmental
and ecological protection.

 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/02/content_3167371.htm