By\u00a0Areeba Falak, Sunday Guardian<\/p>\n
While development versus environmental conservation has been a burning debate across the world, China\u2019s development projects in Tibet, too, have been faulted for causing harm to nature. However, last week\u2019s white paper published by China on Tibet\u2019s ecological progress is being seen as an acceptance of the imposing environmental challenges that China faces in Tibet. \u201cThe Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have taken ecological conservation as a top priority, and regard protection of the plateau as a vital task for China\u2019s survival and development,\u201d said the white paper published by the State Council Information Office, titled \u201cEcological Progress on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.\u201d This plateau is a key eco-safety barrier in China and South Asia. Located in southwest China, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, about 2.6 million square km in area, covers the entire Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province, in addition to parts of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Xinjiang.<\/p>\n
Dhanashree Jairam, co-cordinator, Centre for Climate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, said, \u201cIn general, we have seen a downward graph of the health of our mountains, rivers and other natural resources and the whole Pamir range has been no exception. But the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a part of this range, lies entirely in China\u2019s territory; hence, China comes under harsher scrutiny since it is responsible for the health of the plateau which feeds major rivers of South Asia.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Indus, Mekong, Irrawaddy, Yangtze, Yellow, Salween, Brahmaputra, Karnali and Sutlej rise in Tibet. Tributaries of these rivers are estimated to support 47% of the world\u2019s population. The rivers flow into several countries: China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Floods in Pakistan, China and Bangladesh have been attributed to the damming of rivers on the plateau.<\/p>\n
Jayadeva Ranade, president, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy, said, \u201cChina understands that the cost of mining, nuclear and various other projects in the plateau have affected its own people as well. This white paper is of strategic importance as, on the world stage, China has tried to pose as progressive in terms of environment policies. Recognising the need of initiatives to protect Tibet\u2019s delicate ecological balance is part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, the white paper has been severely criticised by exiled Tibetan environmentalists. Zamlha Tempa Gyaltsen, a research fellow at Tibetan Policy, Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, said, \u201cThis is not the first white paper issued by China on Tibet, but so far is the most detailed one addressing Tibet\u2019s ecology. This proves that China knows that its projects have come at a great environmental cost. This cost cannot be neglected.\u201d Among the major arguments made by environmentalists looking at Tibet is that China\u2019s mega dams in the plateau have not only affected the soil, but that strategic use of these dams will have far reaching consequences in case of war. According to Tibetan environmentalists, China has failed to attribute responsibility for recent natural disasters in Tibet to the development projects in the region. Gyaltsen added, \u201cThere is no involvement of the Tibetan people. Most of the senior positions in government offices in Tibet are occupied by ethnic Chinese. There are hardly any Tibetans in key roles. Corruption is another big issue. The aid to preserve environment exists on paper decorated with big numbers. Tibetans do not have any say in the policy that affects them directly.\u201d Hailed as the \u201croof of the world,\u201d the \u201cthird pole\u201d and the \u201cwater tower of Asia,\u201d the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a natural habitat for rare animals and a gene pool of plateau life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
source:tibet.net<\/p>\n
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