Bald Ibis In Danger Of Extinction.
Information has been received from the Moroccan Ornithological Society,
GOMAC (Groupe d'ornithologie du Maroc) that the holiday resort chain Club
Mediterranee plans to build a new, 8000 bed, 260 hectare holiday resort in
Tifnit, Morocco, immediately adjacent to the last remaining worldwide colony
of the Bald Ibis - and intruding on its feeding grounds in the Souss-Massa
National Park. This colony of 65 breeding pairs (2001) is a significant and
irreplaceable part of the Moroccan, and planetary, natural heritage.
In order that we an keep track of - and assess the impact of the protest -
please bcc all
correspondence to: < >
For more information and photos please go to <
http://proaction.tripod.com/baldibis >
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Contact Addresses:
1.
M. Mohamed EL YAZGHI
Ministre chargé de l'Aménagement du Territoire, de l'Urbanisme,de l'Habitat
et l'Environnement
Département de l'environnement
36 Avenue Al Abtal
Agdal - Rabat
Maroc
Tel : 037 77 26 34 et 35
Fax : 037 77 27 56
email to < >
email bcc < >
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2.
M. Fathallah OUALALOU
Ministre de l'Economie, des Finances, de la Privatisation et du Tourisme
Département de Tourisme
Quartier Administratif - Rabat
Maroc
Tel : 037 76 17 01/ 02
email to < >
email bcc < >
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3.
M le Ministre Délégué chargé des Eaux et Forêts
Quartier Administratif
Place Abdellah Chefchaouni
B.P. 607 Rabat
Maroc
Tél: (07) 76 09 33 / 93 - 76 01 02.
Fax: 76 33 78.
email to < >
email bcc < >
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SAMPLE LETTER 1: Remember to add your name, address & country and forward
widely.
==================================================================
Dear Minister,
We are bewildered and dismayed to learn that the Club Mediterranee plans to
build a new, 8000 bed, 260 hectare holiday resort in Tifnit, Morocco,
immediately adjacent to the last remaining worldwide colony of the Bald Ibis
- and intruding on its feeding grounds in the Souss-Massa National Park.
This colony of 65 breeding pairs (2001) is a significant and irreplaceable
part of the Moroccan, and planetary, natural heritage.
We are aware that the Moroccan ornithological society GOMAC (Groupe
d'ornithologie du Maroc), together with national and international
scientists, have campaigned tirelessly for the protection of this extremely
rare species in your country, which has become a prestigious symbol of your
national avifauna. Recent field studies in the National Park, under the
aegis of BirdLife International, showed an encouraging rise in Bald Ibis
numbers; finally halting the previous catastrophic decline in this species,
both in Morocco and at world level. This is a cause for congratulation; but
also for consolidation. Such successes are rare and should not be lightly
discarded.
Whilst understanding the importance of tourism to the Moroccan economy it is
incomprehensible that the massive environmental impact of this Club
Mediterranee project does not appear to be given the consideration it
merits. The Bald Ibis colony at Tifnit is an exceptional and valuable
natural asset. Once destroyed it can never be replaced. Indeed, with the
continuous increase in green tourism, the almost unique status of the colony
could become a not inconsiderable economic factor. On the other hand, its
destruction would generate negative and unwelcome environmental publicity
for Morocco
We support the GOMAC initiative against the uncritical acceptance of this
project. We understand that various impact assessment analyses corroborate
their grounds for concern; and that studies of alternative locations for the
resort, not far from the National Park site, endorse the argument that they
would be considerably less detrimental to the feeding habitats and thereby
the survival - of the Bald Ibis.
We urge you to accept the responsibility for the survival of this threatened
bird species and use the influence and standing of your office to prevent
irreversible damage to the natural environment of your country.
In the hope of a favourable outcome and intervention on your part we remain,
Yours faithfully,
[Name and full address]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SAMPLE LETTER 2: Remember to add your name & country.
< http://WWW.HOTCORP.COM/ > Web-To-Fax Services
It's easy, it's convenient, it's free! Now you can send fax messages to
France from all over the world.
Email bcc < >
==================================================================
M. Phillipe Bourguignon
President du Directoire
Club Mediterranee
11 rue de Cambrai
75019 Paris Cedex 19
France
Fax: 331 53353151
Dear Monsieur Bourguignon,
We are bewildered and dismayed to learn that your company, the Club
Mediterranee, plans to build a new, 8000 bed, 260 hectare holiday resort in
Tifnit, Morocco, immediately adjacent to the last remaining worldwide colony
of the Bald Ibis - and intruding on its feeding grounds in the Souss-Massa
National Park. This colony of 65 breeding pairs (2001) is a significant and
irreplaceable part of the Moroccan, and planetary, natural heritage.
We ask you urgently to reconsider this decision and review the
environmentally less damaging alternatives.
You are surely aware that the Moroccan ornithological society GOMAC (Groupe
d'ornithologie du Maroc), together with national and international
scientists, have campaigned tirelessly for the protection of this extremely
rare species, which has become a prestigious symbol of Moroccan avifauna.
Recent field studies in the National Park, under the aegis of BirdLife
International, showed an encouraging rise in Bald Ibis numbers; finally
halting the previous catastrophic decline in this species, both in Morocco
and at world level. This is a cause for congratulation; but also for
consolidation. Such successes are rare and should not be lightly discarded.
While appreciating that your business concerns are foremost in your plans,
and understanding the importance of tourism to the Moroccan economy, it is
nevertheless incomprehensible that the massive environmental impact of this
Club Mediterranee project does not appear to be given the consideration it
merits. The Bald Ibis colony at Tifnit is an exceptional and valuable
natural asset. Once destroyed it can never be replaced. Indeed, with the
continuous increase in green tourism, the almost unique status of the colony
could become a not inconsiderable economic factor for the country and could
be incorporated in your future projects. On the other hand, the destruction
of this site and its unique occupants would generate negative and unwelcome
environmental publicity for Morocco and your company.
We urge you to accept part of the responsibility for the survival of this
threatened bird species; and use your influence to prevent irreversible
damage to the natural environment.
In the hope of a favourable outcome and intervention on your part we remain,
Yours faithfully,
(Your name and country here)
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