Olympic "Ornithological" Park At Sochi Home To Zero Birds - "Offset" For Destroyed Wetlands
Sochi — Just outside the Olympic Park in Sochi, where the Winter Games open on Friday, is a green space with benches, artificial ponds and a couple of hides. "Ornithological Park", the sign declares.
The problem is that there is not a bird in sight in the park, which was set up as a replacement for sensitive wetlands that were covered over for the construction of Games venues. "It's a profanation," said Vladimir Zubakin, president of the Russian Bird Union, of the so-called park.
Criss-crossed by disused irrigation canals, the wetlands were a paradise for up to 65 species of birds including vulnerable Dalmatian pelicans that migrated here for the winter. Today, the former wetlands lie buried under two metres (6.5 feet) of crushed rock, used to strengthen the spongy ground for the vast Olympic project championed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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In addition to setting up the Ornithological Park, Olympic contractors planted 1.5 million new trees -- three for every one that was cut down in the Sochi National Park to make way for Olympic sites.
Ed. - emphasis added.
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http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gzWH3viJSBsudLkUDsXG3vKbg2bg?docId=db0ff628-d244-495c-9039-387f55b42d22
= new reply since forum marked as read
...of this Olympics.
I would have thought that environmental impact would be a consideration in choosing an Olympic site. It may to too late for Sochi, but perhaps this will at least increase awareness for the future. Here is the Dalmatian pelican, whose habitat has been wrecked:
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://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalmatian_Pelican