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The Thirsty Dragon: China Plans Tibetan Conservation Zone To Protect Source Of Great rivers
November 19th, 2011
Via the Shanghai Daily, a report that China is planning to set up an ecological conservation zone on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where the country’s major rivers originate. As the article notes: “…The planned national conservation zone covers a 395,000 square kilometer region known as Sanjiangyuan, which is the source of China’s three major rivers – […]
Read more »How Melting Glaciers And ‘Mountain Tsunamis’ Threaten Himalayan Kingdom Of Bhutan
November 19th, 2011
Via WorldCrunch and LeMonde, a look at the dual water threats facing Bhutan: glacial floods and the possibility of reduced river flow in the years ahead: On the Druk Path Trek between Timphu and Paro in Bhutan The Kingdom of Bhutan, tucked between India and China in the foothills of the Himalaya mountain range, is […]
Read more »The Next Dust Bowl
November 18th, 2011
Two interesting articles on threat of a coming Dust-Bowlification from Think Progress. The first reflects on a recent IPCC study that – according to Joseph Romm – hints at Dust-Bowlification, but is mostly silent on global warming’s most grave threat to humanity -Â food production: A USA Today (not IPCC) chart emphasizes the risk of […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Xinjiang To Build 59 Mountain Reservoirs In 10 Years
November 18th, 2011
Via Xinhua News, a report that Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region plans to build 59 reservoirs among its ice-capped mountains to harness the water run-off from melting glaciers in spring and summer. As the article notes: “…The reservoirs are to be built on three mountains, the Tianshan, Kunlun and Altay, with a goal of […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Talking About The Yarlung Zangbo
November 17th, 2011
Via China Dialogue, analysis of the half-truths, fear and suspicion that fuel the debate over south Asia’s shared waters and the role that journalists can help to open up the conversation. As the article notes: There is a well-known Chinese story, told by the philosopher Zhuangzi, about a frog who lived down a well. The […]
Read more »The Disappearing Rivers of India
November 16th, 2011
Via Asia Pacific Memo, a short article on the impact that hydropower development may have upon rivers in northwestern India. As the report notes: The vital rivers of the state of Uttarakhand in northwestern India may soon disappear. A multitude of feeder streams and tributaries that run through the state carve tight passages through steep […]
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