Volunteer
Gucheng Han River National Wetland Park Was Privately Contracted? CBCGDF Volunteers Were Attacked During On-Site Investigation | CBCGDF Concerns
2020/8/5 15:10:00 本站

On July 22, the three volunteers from China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) Han River Conservation Areas in Hubei Province drove to the Gucheng County National Wetland Park in Xiangyang for patrol. Along the way, they found dead fish floating in the water everywhere in the park, which showed that the water quality was obviously problematic. What is even more puzzling is that in the 21.88 square kilometer park, only two or three pedestrians hurried past along the way.

 

The Han River Wetland Park in Gucheng County is located in the east of Chengguan Town in Gucheng and to the west of the Han River. It is geographically located between the Beihe and Nanhe Rivers, surrounded by water on three sides. The section of the Hanjiang River that this wetland park is planned to border on is about 10 kilometers long.

 

As it is located at the source of the mid-line of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project, the wetland park has developed water systems, lush vegetation, and abundant bird resources. It is recognized as an important wetland with high protection value and tourism value.

 

In August 2016, after inspection and acceptance by the State Forestry Administration, it officially became a national wetland park. In March this year, the park was also included in the National Important Wetland List by the State Forestry and Grassland Administration. However, what the volunteers never expected was that after inquiring, they learned that this national wetland park has been privately contracted, so the park has been scarce for a long time.

 

The reason why the CBCGDF volunteers went to this National Wetland Park this time was that on the evening of July 20, a volunteer discovered that someone used boats to conduct illegal electric fishing in the National Wetland Park. After the volunteer reported, the police station in Chengguan Town, Gucheng County quickly dispatched police and arrested the illegal electric fisher Du XX at the scene, seized 4 illegal electric fish tool batteries, one high-power booster device, two electric poles, and 6 jins of illegal catches. However, the volunteers noticed that at that time, the vessel that committed the crime was not seized according to law. Therefore, the volunteers wanted to go back and see if the illegal fishing vessel was still on the shore.

 

When the volunteers walked near the park management office, they found that the illegal electric fishing boat was still parked on the shore, so they took photos and collected evidence. At this moment, three people suddenly rushed out of the duty room of the management office, yelled at the volunteers and pulled them, and shouted: What are you taking? Did we allow it? Are you afraid of drowning in the water? While scolding, they also snatched the volunteers' cameras, binoculars, etc., and refused to listen to the volunteers' explanations.

 

It was the first time that volunteers encountered this situation. In a hurry, they had to contact the local Public Security Bureau and the nearest police station to report to the police. After the police arrived at the scene, the volunteers took back their cameras, binoculars, etc. and were able to get away.

 

According to the provisions of Article 8 of the 2017 "Gucheng Han River National Wetland Park Management Regulations", for example, all units and individuals have the obligation to protect the ecological environment and wetland resources of the wetland park, and have the right to report and stop vandalism; Article 18 stipulates that the use of land resources must be examined and approved strictly in accordance with planning, and unauthorized leasing, transfer, excessive development and conversion of uses are strictly prohibited. So, how come is the National Wetland Park privately contracted?

 

"As a national wetland park, is it allowed to contract or rent to the outside world? The Park Management Office is so rude to the CBCGDF volunteers who assist on the report about the destruction of wetland resources, but so far, no illegal electric fishing boat or boat owner have been dealt with…” Volunteers hope that relevant departments will attach great importance to the management of the Han River National Wetland Park, and take timely accountability and rectification of the problems that have emerged.


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(Photo credit: CBCGDF volunteers)


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(Photo credit: CBCGDF)


Original Chinese article:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/aEyS-BVMaOasAGdOxAXzGg


By / Liu Xiling (Volunteer) Modified / Niu Jingmei


https://www.paypal.me/CBCGDFChina