Recently, it is reported that a wall has been built next to National Highway 214 near the Jinshajiang Dawan Viewing Platform in Meili Snow Mountain National Park, Deqin County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and tourists need to buy tickets to enjoy the scenery.

A staff of the Deqin County Culture and Tourism Bureau said that the wall was built to support local villagers, and the profits from the scenic spot would be returned to the villagers, while the scenic spot also provides local jobs.

First, who are national parks supposed to serve?

Nature is the common heritage of the people and should not become private property. The original intention of the national park system is to promote the construction of the natural protected area system with national parks as the main body, and its core element is “public welfare”. However, the walls built along the national highway are contrary to this intention. The purpose of national parks is to protect the natural environment and let more people share the natural beauty, rather than becoming a tool for a few people to seek profits.

In the report, it was also mentioned that: “Meili Snow Mountain Feilai Temple scenic spot, Jinsha River Big Bay scenic spot belong to the Yunnan-Tibet ecological culture corridor construction project, including the construction of viewing platforms, walls, supporting facilities.”

So, was public opinion fully solicited in the establishment and evaluation of this “Yunnan-Tibet Ecological and Cultural Corridor construction project”?

In the “three axioms of environmental governance”, we must first obtain sufficient publicity and full public participation.

It is worth re-examining two questions. Does the existence of the wall conform to the principles and objectives of the National Park Law (draft) ? National parks should be developed for the benefit of the public, not just to satisfy the revenue of individual units.

As managers of national parks, they should ensure fair and equitable use of resources and promote the integration of ecological protection and sustainable development. It is my hope that this incident will lead to wider attention and reflection, and prompt action to ensure that national parks truly serve the people, rather than becoming a tool for localization, privatization and commercialization.

Original Chinese Article:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UJiPgCscLXQFta18HdDcng
Translator：YJ
Checked by Victoria
Editor: YJ
Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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