[Gretchen]

Wow! I wonder if the Fujian and other bird societies are publicizing this on Chinese media - it seems this is the time to let people know while there has been a groundswell of interest in protecting birds.

[MiguelM]

I'm sorry to say this and I'm also sorry if I offend any one, but chinese hunger for eating anything that moves, plus their traditional medicine usage of endagered animal parts and their totally disrespect for animal life, is ruining our planet 's wildlife biodiversity

[AndrewHeath]

Poaching for Chinese markets is indeed a tremendous problem, MiguelM, but the species and populations that are most at risk under this threat are those whose habitats and lifestyles have already been heavily disrupted by local humans.

As an example, it is easy to get upset about elephants in Africa being wantonly slaughtered for ivory that is then sent back to China, but historically the local people and European traders/adventurers did far more damage to the original populations.

My point being, simply, that we all share blame.

[Frogfish]

Probably so Andrew but demand now is out of control and growing in line with the new found prosperity of the mainland.

Poisoning of ponds and lakes, mist nets covering hundreds of kms across the country (inc. many kms of nets on Poyang Lake), night hunting of large migrating birds with shotguns as sport.

Huge fishing fleets poaching around the world because seas close to China are virtually fished out.

100 million sharks per year is totally unsustainable and is going to irrevocably upset the balance of the eco-system within our oceans within just a few years.

Protected areas in such as the South Pacific and Eastern Pacific around the Galapagos Archipelago and Cocos Island (not that Chilean fishermen are any less to blame there) are being plundered and the eco-system destroyed.

That is before we even start on Panthera tigris, bears and ........ no need to go on, you know all this !

[Shi Jin]

Originally Posted by Frogfish

Probably so Andrew but demand now is out of control and growing in line with the new found prosperity of the mainland.

Poisoning of ponds and lakes, mist nets covering hundreds of kms across the country (inc. many kms of nets on Poyang Lake), night hunting of large migrating birds with shotguns as sport.

Huge fishing fleets poaching around the world because seas close to China are virtually fished out.

100 million sharks per year is totally unsustainable and is going to irrevocably upset the balance of the eco-system within our oceans within just a few years.

Protected areas in such as the South Pacific and Eastern Pacific around the Galapagos Archipelago and Cocos Island (not that Chilean fishermen are any less to blame there) are being plundered and the eco-system destroyed.

That is before we even start on Panthera tigris, bears and ........ no need to go on, you know all this !

Yes I know this.

But, at long last, there is hope:

http://www.chinesecurrents.com/nemo.html

Li Feng (jpeg from the China daily below) is the inspiration for the Beidagang heroes.

These activists have, in turn, inspired many more groups up and down the country to get out there and tear down the nets, report poisoning incidents, take photos of illegal bird trading, lobby local government, demand action from the local forestry bureaus, name and shame culprits on weibo, etc, etc, etc...

Three weeks ago I attended a conference in Beijing to launch what is effectively the Chinese society for the protection of birds - 30 groups from all over China gathered to agree a plan of action under the organisation, Rang Hou Niao Fei.

But of course, the "fight-back" is just beginning.

And it's going to be a long, hard war.

But, thank goodness, there are increasing numbers of people up for the fight.

Best regards from Beijing.


Steve

[thirudevaram]

Hat's off to Li Feng. Not only for his heroic efforts in Hunan but for giving a bold comment like this.