We are shocked by recent images showing the destruction of glaciers and water sources by illegal mining in the Sanjiangyuan nature reserve.

This reserve, the world’s second-largest nature reserve, is the source of three rivers of global importance: Zachu (Mekong river), Drichu (Yangtze River) and Machu (Yellow River). Destruction of the Sanjiangyuan Area eco-system due to increased human activities in the last 40 years, resulting in the decline of glaciers and snow in the Sanjiangyuan region, has greatly affected the water dynamics of lakes and wetlands across the Tibetan Plateau and the eco-systems down-stream in the Yangtze River and the YellowRiver basin. It has also posed a threat to the ecological security of Southeast Asia.

Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve was established in 2000 to protect these global resources. The PRC’s law banned all uncontrolled or poorly managed mining, logging, hunting, and grazing, resulting in resettlement of Tibetan herders from the Sanjiangyuan area. About 200,000 people traditionally lived within the area that is covered by the nature reserve. So far, about 50,000 people have been relocated in the urban areas. Resettlement and the grazing ban policy have had profound implications for those being resettled.

But the ecological protection of the Three-Rivers Source, of vital importance for the ecological security of the rest of Asia, has been violated for decades by illegal, uncontrolled mining in this area.

Here are some shocking images of the completely destroyed mountain Dulne Trakar in the Amnye Machen mountain range, in Golok, Quinghai province.
Dulne Trakar is situated inside a protected zone of the Sanjiangyuan nature reserve. For that reason, for many years the local population have made different appeals to local government to stop this illegal activity by businessman coming from China, who use poisoned substances directly discharged in the rivers. Despite the manifestly illegal character of this exploitation, the local population have never had a response and so they consider that the mining is supported by corrupted local chiefs.

In May 2013, you vowed that China would “never pursue temporary economic growth at the expense of environmental degradation”. You also said that environmental polluters whose activities cause serious consequences “must be brought to account, and should be held accountable for a lifetime.” We solemnly make appeal to you to stop such illegal mining in the Sanjiangyuan nature reserve, bring to account all accountable actors of this criminal activity and effectively protect Southeast Asia from this threat to its ecological security.
Tibetan glaciers are the third pole of our common Earth. Three river’s sources in Sanjiangyuan nature reserve are sources of our global Water. This crime must stop now!

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