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Dear Madam, Sir, Colleague or Fellow Nature-Lover,
I am writing to you on behalf of Proact, an internet support organisation
_principally_ concerned with the conservation and protection of birds and their habitats, primarily in the Western Palearctic.
When you have read this mail you may want to read more about Proact at <http://proaction.tripod.com/ >
My immediate concern is to stimulate your interest in the Slovak Karst, a World Heritage landscape site in Eastern Slovakia.
In February of this year Proact was approached by a local conservationist group,
SOSNA <www.changenet.sk/sosna/english.asp
>
for support in their campaign to prevent further despoliation of the karst by (foreign) mining companies, and to
press for the establishment of a National Park. All of this is well documented at
< http://proaction.tripod.com/slovakkarst
>
with its associated links.
THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN! Proact is contacting you because you place advertisements
in bird magazines for bird tours or equipment. You must therefore share some of our aims!
As with many former communist
East European countries the GNP is low and unemployment high. One of the main resources is the relatively unspoilt landscape,
nature and the profileration of wildlife, which no longer exists to such an extent in the industralised west. At the same
time, the pressures to over-exploit these natural resources, in order to alleviate the short-term problems, are understandably
hard to resist. Moreso when western companies, seeking cheap labour and less restrictive environmental legislation, appear
to offer a 'golden' opportunity to put the region on its feet.
Of far more long-term value - environmentally, culturally
and indeed financially - is Eco-tourism; both for the nationals of the country concerned and foreigners. Eastern Slovakia,
which I visited on behalf of Proact this year, is a good example of this. SOSNA, which I mentioned above,
are attempting
to lay the foundations for this by highlighting the natural and cultural resources; and organising courses, seminars and field
trips. This is of course infinitely preferable to turning the complete Slovak Karst into one huge limestone quarry, which
would take centuries to recover its ecological balance - if at all.
If all of the above interests you - why not send
a
< mailto:sosna@changenet.sk >
and ask what they can offer your company. Please pass this on to anyone else
whom you think may be interested.
Regards
David Conlin,
Proact Coord, Berlin
Proact © David Conlin 2001
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