Chebaling National Nature Reserve under threat
Chebaling National Nature Reserve under threat
Chebaling National Nature Reserve in north Guangdong Province was profiled in Porcupine! 15: 25-32. It was then noted that ecotourism was being promoted by the reserve management. Sadly, a visit during November 1998 suggested that the Chinese face of ecotourism is not the environmentally friendly approach to sustainable management that might be hoped for.
Around the reserve headquarters an area of farmland with trees along the riverside had been cleared for horse riding and horse stables and a house or perhaps restaurant was under construction. A weir was being placed across the river in order to produce an area for canoeing and a concrete "pagoda" was under construction on the river bank. A further promised attraction was "camping", though it was not clear what form this was to take. All these developments appeared to be down to the initiative of a new reserve management team which is primarily interested in bringing more money into the reserve.
Whilst all these changes were rather distasteful to one who remembered when the horse riding area had wild Common Pheasants Phasianus colchicus feeding in the early morning, they might be seen as a necessary trade-off in ensuring adequate resources for the rest of the Reserve. Sadly, however, it is apparent that nature conservation is very low on the list of management priorities.
Most damaging is the construction of a hydro-electric scheme in the heart of the reserve which will result in the permanent diversion of around 3km of the tributary river to the south of Sin Yau Tung Village. This has led to the construction of a new access road and the destruction of forest along one side of the valley, as well as the partial blocking of the tributary by debris (though this will disappear in the longer term in any case). The destroyed section of forest was one of the areas in the reserves where woodpeckers (Picidae) were most frequently seen, suggesting that it contained some of the older trees in the Reserve. Whilst this forest might partially recover, the diversion of the river will result in the permanent loss of one or two Blyth's Kingfisher Alcedo hercules territories. Together with the likely loss of a further territory around the headquarters; approximately 25-40% of the river area formerly used by Blyth's Kingfishers (Leven 1996) will now be unsuitable.
Evidence of lack of interest in nature conservation was abundantly evident elsewhere: the human pressure on the reserve had increased considerably compared to that reported by Ades et al. (1996) and there was much evidence of the collection of forest products, with at least 50 people collecting in the supposedly restricted-access "kernel" area alone. A White's Thrush Zoothera dauma was found in a snare; this had probably been set for pheasants (Phasianidae).
References
Ades, G., Fellowes, J. and Lau, M. 1996. Chebaling Mammals. Porcupine! 15: 29.
Leven, M.R. 1996. Blyth's Kingfisher at Chebaling. Porcupine! 15: 27.
Michael R. Leven
Hong Kong Conservation Strategy?
In a meeting of the Environmental Panel, Legislative Council on 11 December 1998, the Chair, Christine
Loh, said that she was working with the Advisory Council on the Environment to set up a meeting some
time in April 1999 to discuss Hong Kong conservation. At the meeting, both parties will request the
Government to inform them of its existing conservation strategy and to introduce any future plans on Hong
Kong conservation. Ms Loh will invite local green groups and other relevant NGOs and individuals to
participate in the meeting.We will keep readers informed of the progress of this meeting.
Billy Hau
Here to help
In response to an article under the heading "Illegal trapping" by Kwok Hon-Kai in Porcupine! 17, I would like to make an appeal to all readers of this newsletter. Should you come across any native wildlife in distress please don't hesitate to contact the Kadoorie Farm animal rehabilitation centre. We will respond to cases as soon as possible with advice on how to proceed (in some circumstances we will also respond to cases involving threatened exotic species). In Kwok Hon-Kai's case of the soaked and flight-deprived egret we would give the bird a full survival assessment and treat it accordingly. Besides drying the bird we would ensure that its feather condition was adequate for release and also assess its general state of health. Dehydration or emaciation could easily be treated, giving the bird a better chance of survival. Most wild animals which are in severe enough distress to allow their capture have more serious problems than those immediately obvious to the untrained eye.
For your interest some of the species we have had at the rescue centre in the past are listed: Styan Squirrel, Noctule Bat, Dusky Langur, Chinese Porcupine, Pygmy Loris, Koel, Night Heron, Great Egret, Magpie, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Lesser and Greater Coucals, Woodcock, Yellow Bittern, Banded Rail, Little Green Heron, White-breasted Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Chestnut Bittern, Collared Scops Owl, Besra, Black-eared Kite, Eagle Owl, Crested Goshawk, Brown Hawk Owl, Hobby, Saker Falcon, Barred Owlet, Japanese Sparrowhawk, Burmese Python, Water Monitor, Malaysian Giant Turtle, Temple Terrapin, Three- banded Box Turtle, Reeve's Turtle, Bengal Monitor, Black Pond Turtle, Annam Leaf Turtle.
The list continues but I guess you get the idea by now, so please give us a call at KFBG if you come across injured wildlife. CALL 2488 6192.
Paul Crow
(Conservation Officer, KFBG)P.4
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