各位朋友，

公視才剛播出的「返家八千里 黑面琵鷺」紀錄片才剛剛感動了一票人，希望我們能提供他們溫暖友善的冬天休養棲地。不幸的是，保育人士此時也發現他們的夏天棲地正面臨危機。下面信的內容是有關韓國黑面琵鷺的棲地保護，如同台灣當年的濱南案一樣，黑琵夏天棲地也受到一些開發的嚴重威脅，我們在此呼籲大家幫忙連署「SAVE」黑面琵鷺救援聯盟的連署信，並請您幫忙傳給親朋好友，請務必在六月底前加入連署，謝謝！

1. 送email給 這個 E-mail 地址已經被防止灌水惡意程式保護，您需要啟用 Java Script 才能觀看 ，只需表示願意連署(YES)，如果可以，請在下方的信中加入您的姓名及職稱
send 這個 E-mail 地址已經被防止灌水惡意程式保護，您需要啟用 Java Script 才能觀看 a note saying YES, it is fine to add your name and title to the attached letter
2. 或將連署信的內容貼到您組織的信籤，附上姓名後，直接送給Green Incheon 的 Jeong-gu Zhang， cc: it to Marcia McNally at U.C. Berkeley (she is coordinating the campaign) at: 這個 E-mail 地址已經被防止灌水惡意程式保護，您需要啟用 Java Script 才能觀看 Zhang's email address is: 這個 E-mail 地址已經被防止灌水惡意程式保護，您需要啟用 Java Script 才能觀看

Attachment:
   songdo tidal flat letter university sign on version

June 22, 2009

To the Incheon City Government: 

I am alarmed by the widespread destruction of the Song Do Tidal Flat taking place in Incheon City. Scientists around the world have concluded that these tidal flats are critical to the survival of multiple species. In the past 10 years it has become clear that these flats are among the most critical wetlands in the world, exceeding the criteria established by the Ramsar convention for several species. There are many bird species that are in dangerous declines due to previous reclamation here including the Black-faced Spoonbill, Relict Gull, and Chinese Egret. The Saunders’s Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, and Nordmann’s Greenshank are among other threatened and/or endangered species dependent upon the Song Do area.   

The wetlands destruction the Korean Government continues to allow and sometimes even promotes in the name of environmentally-friendly development is shocking, the Incheon Song Do Tidal Flat being a primary example. I have learned that the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) has already destroyed most of the flats, but that approximately 1000 hectares of the Song Do Tidal Flat remain, at and around the mouth of Sorae Creek. If this habitat is reclaimed, it will push birds into a smaller territory, where overcrowding will increase the likelihood of outbreaks of botulism or other diseases. Additional die-offs such as was experienced this year are likely to continue – this will reflect poorly on Korea and Incheon City.  

In most developed and civilized nations, Ramsar-qualifying wetlands are strictly honored. I urge you to stop any further reclamation at this site and to preserve the entirety of the remaining Song Do Tidal Flat for critically-needed wildlife habitat – it is Incheon City’s duty. The suggestion that part of this area can be filled for development and part of it saved for habitat is unacceptable, not only to the international groups monitoring your actions, but by your own criteria and public pledges to fill no more tidal flats for reclamation projects. This you have pledged internationally to the Ramsar Convention and internally via your commitment to a stated policy of no further net loss of wetlands.  

If you decide to proceed with tidal flat destruction, I am prepared to work with other scientists, academics, and environmental organizations to expose your plans internationally. Your continued destruction of Ramsar-qualified tidal flats here and elsewhere, even as you pledge to the international community to preserve them, is but one example of this double-speak. Your “mitigation” for the proposed Song Do Tidal Flat is a misnomer at best and more likely a case of intentional deception. Korea’s record of wetland destruction is among the worst of all the developed nations in the world and its dishonest use of environmental terminology to disguise environmental destruction is unacceptable. Incheon City will not achieve its world-class ambitions based on such deceit. The U.S. universities you are recruiting for your IFEZ campus will likely have second thoughts about locating in Incheon when they know the complete story.  

Bird habitat is not a barrier for city development, but an opportunity to build a real green city and provide residents and visitors with the opportunity to enjoy the nature. Please inform me in writing of your plans for the remaining Song Do Tidal Flats. 

Sincerely, 

your name and title

P.S. The Green Incheon group wants all of the letters by the end of June!