THE THREAT TO THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE DELTA
BACKGROUND
The background information is on the previous campaign page at:
VERDALSELVA RIVER DELTA – NORWAY
THE LATEST POSITION
Text of an email from Proact and Norwegian Ornithological Society (NOF) member Halvor Sørhuus
“Many thanks for Your help so far with the Verdalselva river delta, Ørin.
It’s time to take a new look at the problem as the local authorities have agreed to a modified plan which will allow the transformation of 400 daa of the river delta to an industrial area. This includes some of the most important feeding area for diving ducks* in transit at Ørin. (The first plan was to fill up approx. 570 daa.) No one has any idea what will be built on the area.
Our hope now is that The Minister of the Environment Børge Brende will stop this plan. I think only international pressure will make him do this. My hope is that you can formulate a letter to send to Mr. Brende as soon as possible. Mr. Brende has been a strong ambassador in many national and international environmental questions. But in the Ørin case he has not yet made a statement.
This planning is in conflict with the Ramsar convention, Rio convention and the Bonn convention, to all of which Norway is a signatory.
Please let me know if you can help us again in saving Ørin.
Best regards,
Halvor”
Breaking News:
Norway appointed a new environment Minister on 18th June.
Mr. Knut Arild Hareide. See
http://odin.dep.no/md/engelsk/bn.html
I have amended all texts
HOW CAN WE HELP?
We have formulated a letter appealing to Environment Minister Brende (and the new Minister Mr. Hareide) to intervene.
Go to the draft text below and use it – or even better your own words – to register your personal protest and concern. A direct mail link is also provided.
Thank you,
David Conlin, Proact International
The Norwegian Ornithological society (NOF)
EMAIL TO MINISTER HAREIDE
[To: miljovernministeren@md.dep.no, info@proact-campaigns.net, post@nofnt.no]
WE NEED YOUR INTERVENTION TO PRESERVE THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE VERDALSELVA DELTA
by electronic mail to:
Minister Knut Arild Hareide.
Ministry of the Environment
Dear Minister Hareide,
Congratulations on your new appointment as Environment Minister. We wish you every success in the job and look forward to hearing of positive environmental developments in Norway.
As a group of concerned individuals and bird-lovers worldwide we wrote last year to the Mayor and planning officials of the Verdal Commune expressing our dismay that they had still not abandoned plans to infill and industrially develop the breakwater at the mouth of the River Verdalselva.
We are not clear as to what extent your ministry has been become involved, and what your stance on this matter is; but would urge that, at the very least, you initiate an immediate independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). We have heard recently that, although the extent of industrial development in the North Ørin area as a whole is to be reduced from 570 to 44o dda, plans to infill the breakwater, with drastic effects for wildlife, have still not been finally shelved.
The designation of the location as a Ramsar site, of international importance for waterfowl, is not only a matter of national pride; but of international responsibility as well. It is therefore all the more important that the established wetland habitat of the Verdalselva Delta at Ørin is not disturbed or otherwise harmed by industrial development.
Our interest lies in the fact that situations where natural resources are unsustainably exploited can no longer be uncritically tolerated. Matters of local environmental concern are increasingly, and rightly, of broader international interest. The variance between the perceived short term interests of our industrialised world, and the sustainable long term use of our shrinking planetary natural resources, now unites conservationists, nature lovers and ordinary citizens across the globe.
In this spirit we urge you, to take a personal interest in this matter and not risk sacrificing the natural heritage of present and subsequent generations of Norwegian citizens for questionable short term economic advantages.
In the hope that you will use the influence of your office to achieve a positive outcome in the Verdalselva Delta, we remain,
yours faithfully,
[Name & address]
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS
Minister Knut Arild Hareide
Ministry of the Environment
P.B. 8013 Dep., 0030 Oslo
Tel. +47 2224 5701
Fax: +47 2224 6034
E-post: miljovernministeren@md.dep.no
* Ørin is the most important location for migrating Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus from the Svaldbard (Spitzbergen) population with up to 8000 – 9000 individuals resting at Ørin at the same time. The total population is some 40,000 birds. It is also the most important spring location in Norway for the Scandinavian population of Common Scoter Melanitta nigra with 1230 birds present simultaneously. The Common Scoter is on the Red List of Norwegian Birds. Ørin is also a very important migration and wintering location for many other shorebirds and ducks such as Common Eider Somateria mollissima, Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis, Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca, Surf Scoter Melanitta perspecillata and Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula.
Ørin is the most impotant wintering location for Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus in Norway, and is also an important migration location for Oystercatchers wintering in England.
It is one of the most important winter locations for Mallard Anas platyrhynchos in Norway.
Several hundreds Common Eider feeding at Ørin in spring breed in
Bottenviken in Sweden.
A total of 210 different bird species have been observed at Ørin.