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Pittas and Dolphins-Hushan Dam, Taiwan (1 Viewer)

Mark Bruce

Super Moderator
About a year ago I asked for some help with letters over the Hushan Dam project. Well, time to ask for some more (Letter of Concern).

The Hushan Dam Project threatens to destroy much of the globally most important breeding area for the vulnerable Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha. The area (Huben IBA:TW017) is listed as an IBA in BirdLife International's Important Bird Areas in Asia: Key sites for Conservation (BirdLife International, 2004). The area is home to a number of other threatened birds. For more information on the Huben-Hushan area see the Birdforum-Fairy Temple thread or the Hushan Dam Blog.

The Hushan Dam Project is the key to opening up much over the already very developed central western coast to more heavy pollution generating industry. This will negatively impact on the Dacheng Wetlands IBA (Dacheng IBA: TW016) and the recently discovered Taiwan population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis.

Please assist us in trying to stop the Hushan Dam Project by sending a Letter of Concern to the Taiwan Government.

On 26 April 2007 the EPA subcommittee ruled that work on the project was illegal and had to stop. This was indeed a victory but the appeal now goes to the EPA plenary committee, and with all the perceived governmental interference that can go on there, we are not so sure that the sub committee's verdict will be upheld. The EPA plenary committee hearing is scheduled for Thursday 24 May 2007.
 
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The plight of the eastern Taiwan Strait population of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolph

Here's a little on the plight of the eastern Taiwan Strait population of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins.

In the inshore waters along the west-central coast of Taiwan a desperate battle for survival is being waged by a small population of around 100 Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins against overwhelming habitat loss, existing and planned industrial development, pollution, fishing, military exercises, depletion of their food sources, dams, and a host of other threats.

The eastern Taiwan Strait population of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins Sousa Chinensis was was only discovered as recently as 2002 by Dr. John Y. Wang and his international colleagues working with the Formosa Cetus Research and Conservation Group and Taiwan National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium.

The Taiwan population of humpback dolphins appears to be confined to a small area of coastal waters in west-central Taiwan. Indications are that this population is unique and differs from western Taiwan Strait populations. The eastern Taiwan Strait population appears to be a distinct subspecies. Estimates show that the population is probably in the region of about 100 individuals. What is certain is that this population is less than 200 individuals and that human activities are causing harm to these unique dolphins and unless something decisive is done to save this population that they will be lost forever.

For more information on the dolphins please see Save the Taiwan Sousa Dolphins.
 
Additional support for the Fairy Pitta

In order to add variety and provide another angle of attack (with a different text for example) I have redone the

Fairy Pitta/Husnan Dam campaign

on the Proact site. Please add your support here as well - THIS WEEKEND - as time is short.

Many thanks,


 
Mark, I have sent the appropriate "Letter of Concern". I hope enough people will do likewise and that this will have the desired effect of saving some more of our natural areas.
 
Thanks Larry, Dave, Ann, and David.

David, we had thirty letters come in from Proact last night. Thanks for your help on this !
 
Thanks, Hanno !

Other news is that the EPA minister has resigned and stepped down and because of this the Hushan hearing has been postponed. So we have a bit more time to keep the letters coming in.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/05/22/2003361943

This appeared in the Telegraph gallery http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Slideshow/slideshowContentFrameFragXL.jhtml?xml=/earth/news_galleries/birds/birds.xml&site=Earth .
Above the photo of the Spix's Macaw click "next" twice and you'll see the Hushan birds start to come up for the next four photos.
 
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