A Victory for Nature
Crisscrossed with mountains and rivers, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the southwestern province of Yunnan is a sanctuary for abundant wildlife, including rare plants such as the cycad and animals such as green peafowls and geckos.
The area is also rich in hydropower resources. Over the past few decades, several hydropower stations have been built there.
However, the recent construction of a power station on the Jiasa River, the upper reaches of the Honghe River (Red River) that flows to Viet Nam, has pitched hydropower development against wildlife conservation because the damming of the river for electricity generation will submerge a habitat of the green peafowl, an endangered species.
On March 20, the Kunming Intermediate People’s Court in Yunnan made a first-instance ruling on a public-interest litigation
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days