In May, in a corner of the wetlands of Dongting Lake full of spring colors, there are no birds and fish.
As an important wetland with many national protected areas, it is home to the elk, a national first-class protected animal, and is also the habitat of the Chinese round field snail and many migratory birds. Recently, environmental volunteers and villagers in Yueyang, Hunan Province, provided clues to reporters that the wetland ecology of Dongting Lake is being corroded and damaged by a variety of chaos.
The reporter's investigation found that a large area of European and American black poplar and rapeseed were newly planted in the Dongting Lake wetland in the Guizikou section of Huarong County, and the strong water absorption of the root system of European and American black poplar accelerated the hardening of the wetland; Parts of the East Dongting Lake Conservation Area near Tuan Chau Township have been reclaimed as arable land for wheat and rape cultivation; Bags of used herbicide were scattered around the lake's shores and in the reeds.
"This is poison for Dongting Lake, if [herbicides] are repeatedly used in the wetlands of Dongting Lake, birds will die, fish will die if they eat them, and the water quality will be polluted." An environmental volunteer said as he scooped up a herbicide bag on the water.
How can damaged wetland ecology be healed? The reporter learned that at present, the local area is actively promoting the retreat of European and American black poplars and cultivated land, and the Hunan Forestry Bureau will verify and investigate the above problems.
Question 1: The dilemma of European and American black poplars retreats
Early contracts have not expired and new ones have not been approved
At the boundary monument of Hunan Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve, the village is separated from the wetland by a dike. On April 4, the reporter set out from the boundary marker to investigate in the wetland of Dongting Lake.
Zheng Meng, director of the Wetland Center of Hunan Forestry Bureau, said that the National Wetland Protection Law and the Regulations on Wetland Protection of Hunan Province clearly stipulate that black poplar cannot be planted in the lake area, and approval is required if it is really needed. It is understood that the country, Hunan Province and Yueyang City have previously cleared European and American black poplars in the wetland.
But in the Dongting Lake wetland in the Zhuzikou section of Huarong County, the reporter noticed that the newly planted European and American black poplars have grown to two or three meters in height in recent months. A kilometer away is an earlier planted European and American black poplar, which has been growing for about three or four years, reaching a height of five or six meters. Compared with the original ecological wetland of Dongting Lake and the wetland after planting European and American black poplar, the two show a clear contrast, the latter has been severely damaged.
Mr. Yang, the relevant person in charge of the protection department of the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve Management Bureau, said that European and American black poplar has a great impact on the wetland water system, and large-scale planting of European and American black poplar will lead to wetland hardening, "The root system of European and American black poplar has very strong water absorption, once planted, the water in the wetland will soon be sucked dry by them, and the surrounding quagmire will slowly harden." ”
"Some species in the wetlands are not as viable as European and American poplars, and they will be forcibly occupied until they cannot grow at all." Huarong County forestry department staff added that European and American black poplar also affects the living environment of other original species.
However, under the strong survival advantage of European and American black poplars, the local area did not stop the loss in time, not only cutting down the local willows, "making room" for European and American black poplars, but also spraying a large amount of herbicides in the wetlands, harming fish, birds and water quality. An environmental volunteer in Yueyang, Hunan Province, told reporters that the main role of the original planted local willows was to prevent waves, "in essence, they are more conducive to wetland protection, but now only the stumps left after being cut down remain." ”
The reporter verified from many sources that the Dongting Lake wetland is on the edge of the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve, and the main jurisdiction belongs to the local town government. The relevant person in charge of Zhuzikou Town responded that the newly planted European and American black poplars in the lake area have not been approved, "A long time ago, wetlands could be contracted externally, and the local government signed a long-term contract with the contractor, and now the contract has not expired, if we force the withdrawal, it will involve the corresponding compensation problem, which is our biggest dilemma now." ”
"The newly planted European and American black poplars were planted last year, and they were not approved by the higher forestry department at that time." The person in charge revealed, "As a township level, we do not have law enforcement power, after asking for instructions and communicating with the county and city bureaus, we began to carry out the clean-up, and our law enforcement brigade took action. In the next step, we will also incorporate pesticide cleanup into our treatment measures. ”
In addition, in response to the problem of felling local willow trees, the government of Zhuzikou Town said that it was legal felling with a logging certificate, and the felling was caused by aging and lodging of willow trees, insects, etc., and had basically lost its protective function. However, the reporter verified through the Yueyang and Huarong forestry departments that none of the logging certificates provided by the local town government could be found. Relevant personnel of the Huarong County Forestry Bureau said that the harvesting certificate would be re-verified.
Problem 2 Reclamation of arable land
Wheat and rapeseed are grown in the reserve
Near Tuanzhou Township, Huarong County, the Dongting Lake wetland here faces the same problem.
According to clues provided by environmental volunteers and villagers in Yueyang, Hunan Province, the reporter went to Tuanzhou Township to investigate and found that a large area of rapeseed and wheat were grown here. It is understood that this planting area belongs to the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve, and the administrative area includes Huarong County and Yueyang County.
A relevant person in charge of the forestry station in Tuanzhou Township, Huarong County, told reporters frankly that wheat and rapeseed should not be planted in the reserve, and has been actively promoting the withdrawal of rapeseed and wheat, "European and American black poplars were also planted here, and after we cleaned it up, this place was involved in contract disputes, the contractor's contract did not expire, they could not plant trees, some places planted some wheat to earn some money, if the township government forced the withdrawal, there was no money to compensate them." ”
The person in charge said that the relevant departments are dealing with this issue, "There is no law enforcement force in our township, and now we have reported this matter to the higher authorities." ”
According to this, the Beijing News reporter learned from the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve Management Bureau that after paying attention to the relevant situation, the management bureau has sent a letter to the territorial government, requesting that corresponding measures be taken to remove rapeseed and wheat as soon as possible. "If the local government is in place, it should be cleared quickly." Mr. Yang, the person in charge, said.
In addition, the Hunan Forestry Bureau will also verify and investigate the existing problems in the above-mentioned Dongting Lake.
Beijing News reporter Zhao Lu Bo Qiyu