Industrial park in reserve

According to the People’s Daily, in Shizhu county in Chongqing, an industrial park was found encroaching on almost a quarter of the Shuimoxi Wetland Nature Reserve during an inspection carried out by Central Environmental Inspection Group.

But instead of halting the construction, county officials simply made the nature reserve smaller.

Thus the so-called “rectification,” instead of protecting the environment, inflicted further damages. Shizhu county failed to balance economic development and environmental protection. Even though the industrial park was able to attract investment, the short-term economic benefit could never outweigh the loss inflicted on the environment.

Local officials should properly deal with the need to balance development and protection.

Development at the cost of destroying our environment is never worth it.