China’s three parallel rivers national park threatened by illegal mining
China’s best preserved forests in south-west China’s Yunnan province are under threat from illegal mining, according to a new report. The study by Greenpeace shows mining and industry activity in the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan protected area is destroying pristine forests in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. The researchers combined remote sensing data and field visits to show mining is leading to deforestation, water pollution and habitat loss in the mountains of north-west Yunnan on the eastern foothills of the Himalayas. These rare pristine forests make up 3% of China’s overall forest cover and are concentrated in the high alpine areas of Sichuan, Tibet and Yunnan. This region is home to many endangered animals and rare plants and is reputed to be the “gene bank of the world.” But it is a region increasingly under threat from climate change and human activity. Greenpeace has identified 24 mining sites within “intact forest landscapes” areas across China, of which three are located in the Three Parallel Rivers national park.
