713反雪谷纜車台中大遊行─中英文新聞稿

713反雪谷纜車台中大遊行─中英文新聞稿

台中市政府為發展觀光纜車，不惜傷害瀕絕的台灣黑熊生態，台灣民眾希望國際保育團體出面關心。

受到人為開發與非法狩獵的因素，近數十年來，亞洲黑熊的分佈範圍日亦縮小。台灣黑熊為台灣唯一原產的熊類，屬於亞洲黑熊的種群之一。目前受到野生動物保育法公告為保育類瀕臨滅絕野生動物。如同其他亞洲黑熊，台灣黑熊同樣受到棲地喪失與非法狩獵導致族群數量稀少，學者推估全台灣黑熊族群數量約200~600隻。

過去調查顯示台灣黑熊分布集中在中央山脈玉山國家公園境以南之山區，雪山山脈的黑熊分布較零星。大雪山森林遊樂區位於雪山山脈，研究者在過去一年內，陸續發現園區內有穩定台灣黑熊族群出沒，且遊客多次目擊母熊帶子熊在園區活動，顯示大雪山森林遊樂區內可能是穩定的黑熊繁殖地，更凸顯園區內有穩定黑熊族群，這對北台灣黑熊族群彌足珍貴。

然而，日前台中市政府規劃雪谷線纜車，預定從谷關沿波津加山抵達大雪山遊客中心，此纜車會經園區內黑熊分布的熱點，對黑熊造成干擾。研究者發現目前園區內黑熊族群數量不多，且會迴避遊客量較高的地區，纜車營運不僅會壓迫黑熊的棲息地，同時更會干擾黑熊的行為，所引發的連鎖效應更會提高小族群滅絕的風險。

台灣黑熊是生物多樣性指標物種，黑熊的出沒顯示大雪山森林遊樂區內自然棲息地健全且完整，台灣黑熊的活動範圍廣大，需要多樣性高的棲息環境，因此黑熊可作為保護傘物種，園區內陸續發現台灣黑熊族群，顯示應積極保育黑熊及其他野生動物族群，減少過度的人為開發，維持棲息地完整與健康，以利瀕危物種的生存。

為此，台灣的環保團體、保育團體及關心黑熊保育的民眾於7/13下午在台中市發起反對雪谷纜車的大遊行，參加者扮裝「黑熊」參與遊行，遊行民眾對台中市政府的訴求：

(1) 我們同意交通建設，但我們反對休憩型的雪谷纜車衝擊黑熊生態。

(2) 我們同意推動觀光，但我們反對不永續的規劃，傷害大雪山森林。

(3) 我們同意谷關發展，但我們反對台中市政府不設置谷關汙水處理廠，讓台中人喝觀光客糞水。

(4) 我們同意理性溝通，但我們反對台中市政府未環評先招商，刻意造成社會對立。

台灣的民眾希望國際保育組織能出面，共同為瀕臨絕種的台灣黑熊發聲，為台灣黑熊保留一絲生存的希望。

發起單位：台灣生態學會、台灣黑熊保育協會、主婦聯盟台中分事務所、荒野保護協會台中分會、台灣護樹團體聯盟、台中市原鄉文化協會、台中市惠來遺址保護協會、大台中市政監督聯盟、台灣西海岸保育聯盟、社團法人中華民國野鳥學會、台中市新環境促進協會、地球公民基金會、彰化縣環境保護聯盟、社團法人臺灣省野鳥協會、台中律師團體、台中市大坑文化協會

Taichung City Government project, a major threat to the nearly extinct Asian Black Bear.

Press Release

Taiwan's endangered Asian Black Bear, known as the Formosan black bear, is under great threat as the Taichung City government proposes building cable cars in Mt. Poujinjia, Guguan, reaching the Visitor Center in Dasyueshan Forest Recreation Area.

The conservation association and wildlife groups believe that this project will negatively affect the Bear's natural habitat and change their behaviour, as the cable cars will pass the areas in which they live. Many believe this will pose danger to the survival of the species.

Taiwan's Formosan Black Bears have been under threat for decades. The bear was listed as an endangered species under the Natural and Cultural Heritage Act, and was later listed as a Conserved Species Category I.

This is the result of deforestation and unlawful hunting, which has been going on for decades with not enough being done to protect the species. The current number of the Formosan Black Bears is estimated to be around 200-600, which many believe will decline rapidly in the near future.

Taiwan's Formosan Black Bears mainly populate the Central Mountain Range in south of Yushan National Park and minimally on Hseuhshan Range. Dasyueshan Forest Recreation Area is located on Hseuhshan Range and researchers have found a number of Formosan Black Bears in the Recreation Area.

Dasyueshan Forest Recreation Area can possibly be a stable reproduction site for Formosan Black Bears. Tourists have witnessed female bears with cubs emerge in the Area.

Formosan Black Bears play key roles within the ecosystems. We are just beginning to understand the cascading effects that extinction can have on other species and ecosystems.  The proposal of Cable Cars causes warning and it is necessary to reduce constructional development to safeguard the protected area.

The conservation association and wildlife groups are launching a campaign against the development of the tourism cable cars at Taichung City Hall on July 13th. The participants in the parade will be in “Black Bear” suits in protest against the project.

We need as much support as possible locally and internationally. It is our duty to speak for the endangered Formosan Black Bears and to prevent the species from disappearing.

SAVE OUR PLANET, SAVE OUR ANIMALS AND SAVE OUR BIODIVERSITY 

(翻譯：Yamei Ko)