Famous Waterfall Needs ProtectionHeritage experts recently warned that if there is no environmental protection at the Huangguoshu scenic spot, which has 18 waterfalls in China's southwest Guizhou Province, it will disappear within 50 years.Only 10.3 percent of the well-known tourism areas, covering 115 square kilometers, are planted with trees, less than one third of the provincial average level of afforestation, Shanghai's 'Wenhui Daily" reported today. The experts said that water storage in the surrounding areas of Huangguoshu has worsened. During the outgoing dry period this year, lots of wells and springs nearby dried up. At the same time, rubbish accumulated in the past years destroyed the natural beauty, experts said. A local official considered building a permanent outdoor theater with 3,000 seats near the largest waterfall. However, the provincial legislature vetoed the proposal. The provincial government decided to pour 280 million yuan (33.7 million US dollars) into a project to beautify Huangguoshu, including a pollutant treatment system with three sewage plants. Local authorities also plan to raise the forestation coverage from the 10.3 percent to 48.5 percent. By improving the environment, authorities want to have Huangguoshu listed on the World Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |