A fire that lasted for almost two months in a nature reserve in
northeast China has brought massive losses to local residents and
endangered the red-crowned cranes inhabiting the area.
Local sources said that the fire began on August 27 and quickly
spread to grasslands in the reserve.
The fire was put out two days ago, with no deaths or injuries. But
the fire had engulfed more than 13,000 hectares of reeds in the
Zhalong Nature Reserve and seriously destroyed the habitat of the
cranes.
The reserve, dubbed the "homeland of red-crowned cranes," covers
about 210,000 hectares and is located 30 km from the city of
Qiqihar in
Heilongjiang Province.
The reserve is also China's biggest wetland and has been recognized
by major international wetland protection organizations.
The reserve's management office was unavailable for comment. The
National Plain Fire Control Office under the Ministry of
Agriculture confirmed the disaster.
"We monitored the fire by satellite and informed the local
authorities, but so far we haven't received any further report from
them," said an official surnamed Xue.
Villagers residing in the reserve said they are the biggest losers
in the two-month long fire.
"Though the fire didn't swallow up our houses and cattle, our reeds
were gone," said Gao Jian, who earned his family's living by
growing and selling reeds.
The fire has caused losses estimated at 8 million yuan (US$963,000)
and efforts are now going on to earmark money and other items to
help farmers through the coming winter.
The reeds, which are a raw material used for paper-making, are also
vital for wetland protection.
Because the roots of reeds, useful in conserving water, were harmed
by the fire, the wetland will not be restored for three or five
years, experts said.
"The surrounding area was destroyed and we do not know when the
cranes once living in the reserve can fly back," an environmental
expert in the reserve said.
(China
Daily October 23, 2001)