Welcome toTibet Natural Environment Conservation Network

Eco-conservation is a moral obligationto each and every human on our planet. Situated in the heart of Asia, the Tibetan plateau serves as the foremost watershed of Asia and as such, should be top priority with conservation efforts. As many as 10 major rivers originate in Tibet, within this overlooked area. These rivers are the lifeline to millions of people downstream, throughout eastern and southern Asia. It is estimated that roughly 85% of Asia’s population(3.5 billion people), or 47% of the world population, are dependent and rely on the rivers from Tibet for fresh water.

Any disruption of the fragile ecology of the Tibetan plateau is therefore bound to have global consequences. As an indication of a chain-reaction of damage from global warming, international scientists, environmental groups and others warn that the accelerated glacier melting in the mountains of Tibet could choke off water sources vital for large parts of South Asian countries. One study warns that 80 percent of the glacial area in Tibet could disappear by 2035.

The wanton large-scale destruction of Tibet’s environment began only after China occupied Tibet in 1950. Until that time, the ecology of Tibet had been preserved, remainingpristine for centuries. From the ancient Choegyalemperors, to the institution of Dalai Lamas, throughout historyrulers of Tibet have consistently passed strict decrees on the protection of Tibet’s environment and its wildlife, which were wholly observed. More recently, radical and excessive exploitation of natural resources of Tibet (specifically indiscriminate logging of virgin forests, unregulated, invasivedrilling and mining, damming of rivers, and even dumping nuclear wastes), the Tibetan lands are in crisis.

Ongoing Chinese colonizationpolicies relocate Chinese families into Tibet, iscausing a dramatic increase in Tibet’s population, which in turn creates a serious drain on the already limited, natural resources of the Tibetan plateau. One major consequences of this onslaught of Chinese people has been the dramatic increase in the illegal poaching and canned hunting of indigenous wildlife throughoutthe region Tibet. As a result, many animal species of the rich Tibetan wildlife are today on the verge of extinction.

Aggressive and renewed Chinesecolonization policies throughout Tibet creates a demand for a renaissance of traditional Tibetan Buddhist values whichrespect the environment, together with it’s unique, diverse animal wildlife.

 2. An Environmental Website in Tibetan

The Tibetan Diaspora has increasingly employed Internet to their advantage. Modern technological advanceshave afforded and enhanced the ability of Tibetans across the world to remain a cohesive, organized community. In fact, Tibetans have created a virtual community in cyberspace, where distance is never a barrier, enabling better culture specific connections and communication.

Although websites run by the Tibetan community are numerous and provide a wide variety of information, an overwhelming majority of these are in English or other major world languages. Only a few websites are in Tibetan. Of these, the websites managed from inside Tibet are riddled with Chinese government propaganda, while the remaining (run by Tibetan exiles) are news websites. To date, there is not a single website that provides comprehensive information on issues related to environment and wildlife conservation information ofTibet, in our language.

Funds are being solicited for opening and managing a website which will provide comprehensive information on the following issues:

1) Traditional Tibetan values of reverence towards the environment, which is based on the Buddhist concept of interdependence, or dependent-origination theory, and of stewardship and compassion towards wildlife.

2) The global movement for the protection of bio-diversity, including the current state of the global environment and endangered species, international laws on environment protection, etc.

3) Tibetan translations of important news articles on environment and wildlife.

4) English and Chinese translations of related information that is originally in Tibetan and provided by the website.

5) His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s speeches on the preservation of environment and wildlife, as well as the speeches and writings of various eminent leaders of all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

6) A detailed information about the series of mass burning of animal skins that took place across the length of Tibet last year, following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s public appeal against using or trafficking wildlife related products.

7) Major research papers on the state of Tibet’s environment.

8) Events page with information on public awareness campaigns in the Tibetan community, especially on World Environment Day.

9) Leaflets and related information available to print out for distribution at community gatherings.

10) The website will also feature the entire content of my environment and wildlife conservation book based on several years of research on Tibet’s bio-diversity.

My book “Ancient and Contemporary of International Environment and Wildlife Conservation Education,” published by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) and supported by the Sacharuna Foundation was released on 5th July 2008 coinciding with World Environment Day.