31 Aug 2007 - Santiago
de Cali, Colombia – The Colombian government
has announced the creation of a new national
park, adding to further protection of the
Amazon.
The Serranía de los Churumbelos
Auka Wasi National Park, covering 97,180ha,
is part of a corridor stretching from the
lowlands of the Amazon Basin to the slopes
of the Andean Mountains.
“The new park significantly increases the
network of protected areas that are so important
for the conservation of Andean and Amazon
ecosystems,” said Luis Germán Naranjo,
WWF-Colombia’s Ecoregional Conservation
Director.
The park’s area is home to abundant wildlife,
including the Andean bear, jaguar, tapir
and puma, as well as some 30 species of
amphibians, 16 species of reptiles, more
than 140 species of butterflies, and 825
species of plants. And it is home to 461
bird species, almost one-fourth of all bird
species found in the country.
Territories and sacred areas of several
indigenous communities living in the new
protected area, such as the Inga and Yanaconas,
will also be protected.
“Our work with the Colombian parks authorities
will boost activities to preserve the Amazon
Basin at local, regional, national and international
levels,” stressed Naranjo.
WWF participated in the process that led
to the declaration of the new park and will
help implement the management plan, which
includes the promotion of conservation and
sustainable development in and around the
park.
Maria Ximena Galeano, Press Officer
WWF-Colombia
+ More
Cross border haul of illegal bear and tiger
parts seized in Russian Far East
28 Aug 2007 - Customs and the Frontier
Service in the Primorskii province in the
Russian Far East have seized a massive cache
of illegal wildlife products bound for China.
The latest seizure includes 480 paws from
brown and black bear and a Siberian tiger
pelt and bones, as well as 20 kg of wild
ginseng.
This is the fourth seizure of Siberian
tiger parts and derivates this year.
“WWF continues to provide information and
technical support to the Custom and Frontier
Service to help suppress this illegal and
growing trade across the Russian border,”
said Pavel Fomenko, Amur branch, WWF-Russia.
He added that WWF specialists often help
identify seized wildlife products.
In January earlier this year, law enforcement
officials seized 360 kg of bear paws, three
Siberian tiger skins and bones, and 531
saiga horns.
In February, Khanka frontier guards confiscated
130 bear paws.
In July, Vladivostok custom officials found
hidden tiger bones while checking and processing
official papers of a Chinese national when
leaving .
Practically all the seized wildlife products
except for saiga horns come exclusively
from the Russian Far East.
“It is essential that the Khanka Lake section
of the border be controlled, as we now know
it is a vital conduit for illegal wildlife
trade,” added Fomenko.
WWF says Russian Custom and Frontier Service
authorities should ensure bettter control
through the so called “Khanka hole”.
The Khanka Lake section of the Russia/China
border is considered to be one of the most
complicated and important thoroughfares
between the two countries.
Legal proceedings have been instigated
against the Chinese and Russian nationals
involved in the latest smuggling case involving
the bear paws and ginseng.
Yulia Fomenko, Communications Manager, WWF
Russian Far East office
