23 December 2005
Chinese scientists call on Tibetans to develop environmental protection
Li Wenhua, an academic from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has called for more environmental protection measures in the TAR. Li said it is very important to protect the fragile ecological system there. He pointed to desertification and forest devastation as the two main problems, and expressed “hopes that Tibetan people can change their way of economic development and exploit their resources in a scientifically sound approach”. Zhang, another expert with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, suggested that a gene bank of rare animal species be set up in the TAR. Endorsing declared official policies Zhang also proposed to stop “outdated labor-intensive agriculture production”, and said "we should rationally develop ecological, mineral and tourist resources in Tibet. (…) Rational development of eco-tourism can both protect wildlife there and increase revenue for the local people".