Starting in autumn 2010, the Tianshan Heavenly Lake region in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has prohibited livestock grazing as part of measures to protect the grassland, forests, and ecology.
Situated at 2,000 meters above sea level and listed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage site since 1990, the lake and surrounding peaks, also known as the Celestial Mountains, are known for their pristine natural beauty.

However, the area’s management committee explained that overgrazing in recent years has caused severe degradation of the alpine grasslands, which has in turn has set off mudslides, floods, and other natural disasters.

Research reports also showed that the most recent mudslides on June 22 this year occurred at places where livestock usually grazed. Additionally, a 2007 report indicated that the reduction of livestock from 180,000 to 80,000 over a period of four years had resulted in significant area improvements. The committee thus has expressed their hope that the ban imposed on livestock grazing will bring a restored balance of all ecosystems in the region.

Kudos, Tianshan Heavenly Lake committee and all parties involved for your pledge to preserve this legendary region. May such measures foster a growing realization of the benefits of halting all livestock-related practices in honoring a more humane and sustainable existence for all.

Supreme Master Ching Hai has frequently emphasized the need to eliminate the animal agriculture and meat production industry for the protection of our Earth, as during a video message for a June 2009 conference in Mexico.


http://news.sohu.com/20101003/n275403965.shtml
http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/www.xj.xinhuanet.com/2010-10/03/content_21054593.htm
http://news.iyaxin.com/content/2010-10/03/content_2195740.htm