FWD: [CN] Panda-friendly forests rapidly disappearing

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A U.S.-China study has found that high-quality panda habitats are

disappearing faster inside China's flagship nature preserve than before

the park was created.

 

The study highlights a problem facing conservation programs worldwide:

too many people.

 

The human population has almost doubled inside China's Wolong Nature

Reserve since the park's creation in 1975. Having used up forests near

their low-elevation homes, Wolong's residents are cutting the dappled

mountain forests where pandas live and breed to get wood for cooking and

heating, the

researchers reported Friday in the journal Science.

 

The finding raises serious questions for environmentalists about how to

manage nature preserves and balance the needs of local residents with

those of endangered species.

 

" We were surprised " at the extent of forest destruction, said lead

researcher Jianguo Liu of Michigan State University. " We always

perceived that if you designate a protected area, then they (the pandas)

are safe. "

 

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