Mountain Wildlife in Afghanistan Survive Conflict Zone (Video) *Further protection needed*

▲ ▲ ▲

The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) of Nuristan, Afghanistan
 Listed as Endangered, population trend decreasing, by the IUCN

Spectacular Wildlife in Afghanistan Needs Protection While war comes to mind when Afghanistan is mentioned, the mountain region of Nuristan is the home of spectacular wildlife and magnificent scenery. Joe Walston, Asia Program Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society, is leading an effort to preserve and protect this special ecosystem. Nuristan is unlike other areas of Afghanistan and is "much more like the Italian Alps or the Rocky Mountains in the United States". The Snow Leopard inhabits this region along with the Markhor (Capra falconeri), a large species of wild goat with large corkscrew, spiraling horns. The Markhor is listed as Endangered, population trend decreasing, by the IUCN. The Asian Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus), aka Himalayan Black Bear, Moon Bear, or White-Chested Bear, is indigenous to Nuristan and listed as Vulnerable, population trend decreasing, by the IUCN. Another inhabitant of Nuristan is the familiar Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) and is listed worldwide as Least Concern, population trend stable, by the IUCN.

Wildlife Conservation Society Efforts The WCS reports and surveys are optimistic. Camera traps set in a 1,000 square kilometer area between 2006 and 2009 show the wildlife in Nuristan is surviving despite the ongoing war. Joe Walston of WCS says, "WCS helped the Afghanistan government develop its first national park (Band-e-Amir National Park) not far from Kabul. It's already a tourist site, people are regularly going out." In a time of war, stress, and tension, "people want something that provides an escape from that, but also something that is a point of pride". Walston said, "Band-e-Amir is an example of something that Afghanistan can and should be proud of". 

Animals in Afghanistan Survive Conflict Most people think of Afghanistan as a conflict zone, but it’s also the home of spectacular wildlife in need of protection.

Nuristan is important mountain habitat for wildlife

Wildlife Conservation Society
Saving Wildlife, Saving Wild Places

International Union for Conservation of Nature
Conserving Biodiversity

Visit Osprey Port News Network

Apple, Google, Baidu, China

technology, financial system

stocks, markets, economy

science, environment, future

Follow Mountain Seer

▲ ▲ ▲

Great Bear Rainforest Threatened by Oil Pipeline (Video) *Home of the Spirit Bear*

▲▲▲

Spirit Bear (Ursus americanus kermodei)

Great Bear Rainforest The pristine Great Bear Rainforest is in British Columbia and mostly accessible by aircraft via water or by water. This untouched ecosystem is threatened by a proposed oil pipeline running from Alberta to British Columbia. National Geographic calls this the pipeline through paradise. The oil pipeline would run through Great Bear Rainforest plus the oil terminal would be on this wild coast of British Columbia, a bay of the forest. The proposed twin pipeline would be 1,200 kilometers in length. Oil tankers would load the oil on the coast and transport it to China. Ian McAllister, Director of Pacific Wild, says, "The idea of a supertanker in a place like this would destroy it forever."

Photographing the Rainforest Wildlife and landscape photographers of the International League of Conservation Photographers are converging on the Great Bear Rainforest to assist in saving this unpolluted ecosystem through photos documenting the magnificent scenery and diverse wildlife. Paul Nicklen, of National Geographic, photographed the iconic Spirit Bears. To locate these elusive bears, Nicklen says, "You have to have patience and passion. There are very few Spirit Bears. You have to put in 18 hour days for 6 weeks at a time just to get a few glimpses of this white bear". Ian McAllister adds, "Our hope is that this place will be illustrated in images so that we can show the world what's really at stake here".

Spirit Bears Marvin Robinson is a guide, tracker, and member of the Git’gat First Nations, which is native to the Great Bear Rainforest. His tribe considers the Spear Bear as sacred and until recently only spoke of the bear in whispers. The Spirit Bear is a subspecies of the American Black Bear and some, estimated at 10%, have a white or cream coat due to a recessive gene. The Spirit Bear with a population of less than 500 is more rare than Panda Bears and is sometimes called "Canada's Panda". The Git’gat First Nations is among tribes that are opposing the "pipeline through paradise". BC’s Coastal First Nations have declared a unified opposition to oil tankers in their traditional territories, including the Great Bear Rainforest.

Pipeline Defender Some say the pipeline would skirt the Great Bear Rainforest and only travel through the region in double-hull oil tankers, guided by tugboats. John Carruthers, President of Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines, says, "We believe the potential of a spill is remote. We'll also put in very thorough plans as to what we would do in the event of a spill. The public needs to understand that we can respond effectively, if there is an incident". However, an Enbridge pipeline burst in Michigan, spilling a million gallons of oil into a river that flows into the Great Lakes.

The Hunt for the Rare Spirit Bears Searching for spirit bears, a rare white bear species revered by locals. After 3 days of searching, led by Git’gat guide Marvin Robinson, the ABC News team sees a spirit bear. The Great Bear Rainforest, one of the "last truly wild places on Earth".

Slide Show: Spirit Bears and the Great Bear Rainforest Conservationists hope photo spread will bring attention to pipeline proposal. Click here to see photos of the awe-inspiring Great Bear Rainforest.

Spirit Bears: The Next Environmental Superstar

Great Bear Rainforest: Pipeline Through Paradise (National Geographic)

Pacific Wild

Pacific Wild is a non-profit conservation organization that is committed to defending wildlife and their habitat on Canada’s Pacific coast.

International League of Conservation Photographers
To further environmental and cultural conservation through communication initiatives aimed at creating vital content and disseminating conservation messages to a wide variety of audiences.

Visit Osprey Port News Network!

Apple, Google, Baidu, China, technology, financial system, stocks, markets, economy, science, environment, future

Follow Mountain Seer (@MountainSeer) on Twitter!

News, observations, philosophy of the biosphere, environment, ecosystems, wildlife

▲▲▲