[sustran] Appeal for help in stopping road construction.

[Car Busters]

**sorry for cross posting, but as this is a generally sympathetic list I
thought you may be able to assist. If you can, or think you know someone
who can,  please write to dave martin (dmartin at igc.org, other contact
info at end of msg)

Debbie
Car Busters



>>
>>This is Dave Martin from PERC writing.
>>
>>PERC is looking for an American or Canadian to participate in an
>>environmental review of a proposed road building project in Siberia.
>>Officials there are looking to build a road from Southern Siberia to
China.
>>The proposed road will, among other things, go through a World Heritage
Site
>>that is sacred to a number of indigenous cultures there.  The road would
>>also be built on very rough terrain--altitudes of up to 2600 m,
permafrost,
>>highland marshes, etc.  I will include more info on this at the end of the
>>message.
>>
>>We are looking for someone with experience evaluating these sorts of
>>projects.  This includes experience with environmental reviews of road
>>projects, familiarity with the many problems of road construction in
>>roadless areas, engineering and economics issues, and especially
experience
>>with high altitude and other difficult construction.  Of course, it is
>>impossible to find someone that specializes in all that.  but the broader
>>the background, the better.
>>
>>PERC will cover all the costs of travel and lodging, and there will be
>>people to translate.  The review may happen as soon as this summer.  Exact
>>timing depends on when paperwork is filed by the people who want to build
>>the road.
>>
>>Please let me know if you have any suggestions.
>>
>>Dave
>>
>>******************************
>>Global Response Action Alert #3/00
>>Protect Snow Leopard Habitat / Siberia
>>May-June 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)
>>
>>
>>
>>***********************************************
>>Dave Martin
>>Siberian Wilderness Campaign
>>Pacific Environment and Resources Center
>>1440 Broadway, Ste. 306
>>Oakland, CA 94612
>>Tel: 510-251-8800
>>Fax: 510-251-8838
>>www.pacificenvironment.org
>>**********************************
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