Mt. Kawagebo u ċirku Pilgrim tiegħu, Tibet Reġjun Awtonomu, Ċina

Sors: Wiki Images
    Sit
    Mt. Kawagebo is one of the most respected holy mountains and represents an important culture of Southern Tibet. Kawa means white and gebo means mountain in the local Tibetan language. The Kawagebo mountains have complex climatic, geological and ecological conditions: from the lowest river valley to the highest peak there’s a height difference of 4900 m, which creates distinguished climatic belts: subtropical hot-dry river valleys, temporal mountains, boreal mountains and ice sheets. The vegetation types range from dry shrubs, subtropical mountain forests, Boreal forests, Alpine grasslands to highland tundra. While most of Mt. Kawagebo, is designated as a protected area, the Western part, covering part of the Chayu Prefecture of Tibet, is not included in the National Park due to its hot-dry climate and sparse vegetation coverage.

    Mt. Kawagebo was originally regarded by the Tibetans as the house of Tsan, a powerful deity. With the arrival of the Buddhists in the region around the 8th century, the deity changed into a protector of Buddhism, and was renamed into Kawagebo. Matul is-sekli, pilgrim paths were established, which today include different sacred natural places such as sacred water bodies (fountains, lakes and waterfalls) and sacred rocks (ġebel, cliffs, caves). The pilgrimage paths connects sacred places that imbue a whole landscape with a meaning of the sacredness. Such places include monasteries where eminent monks undergo spiritual cultivation.

    Ritratti 1. Marble quarry near the Holy Mountain.
    Status - threatened.

  • Mining: the mountain region is rich in minerals and stone resources (Marble quarry see photo 1.). A gold mine on the South-west of the pilgrim road has recently been closed, after one year of mining.
  • Hydropower construction: There are on-going big dam projects on the nearby Nu River (Salween) and Lancang River (Mekong). A dam proposed on the Nu River near Songta village, 6 km south from the pilgrim road is potentially threatening the road and Tibetan monasteries with floods. Once finished in 2020, 9 villages (3500 nies) on the western side of the pilgrim circle will be relocated.
  • Increased human disturbance: designated in 2009 the Meili Xueshan National Park is becoming the region’s tourism hotspot and annualy attracts half a million people. The construction of infrastructure impacts on several Rigua, local holy mountains as well as fragile local ecosystems.
  • Changing Religious values: with the introduction of ever increasing development and market economy, many people lost faith in the holy mountains and places sacred to communities are deserted and the related traditions abandoned.
  • Kustodji
    Local Tibetan villagers living around the pilgrim circle regard the mountain as their protector and they have a series of traditional natural resource management methods such as ri-rgya, the community holy mountain and taboo area, where hunting and logging are strictly prohibited. In the ri-rgya1, the collection of non-timber forest products, limited herding and other activities may be allowed. ri-rgya, allow the sustainable utilization of community’s resources, protection of water resources, and prevention of mountain slope erosion, water and soil loss. Rituals and offerings are done by the male family members in the region: in the early morning of the 5th, 10th, 15th u 30th of the month. The length of the ritual and the amount of offerings vary, peaking for example on the first day of the new year.

    Politika u l-Liġi:
    Mt. Kawagebo is governed within the framework of national policy. Designated protected areas are located nearby where governance may benefit the ecological conditions of Mt. kawagebo.

    The traditional governance of the ri-rgya is one of the most important religious practices to the local Tibetan community. There are agreements between different villages and families to guarantee the regeneration of timber and medicinal plants, as well as limited use of non renewable resources such as rock and minerals.

    Riżultati
    Through the cultural and environmental projects of KCC, local people increasingly understand the importance of their own culture and natural environment. There is more cultural confidence among local villagers as well as increased community integrity. Collaboration with other groups and organisations is improved, and research on the taboo mountains and forests (ri-rgya) is building a bridge between local knowledge and national governance as well as international research.

    Viżjoni
    The vision of the local Tibetan is not explicit but resides in their spiritual tradition. Mt. Kawagebo as a sacred mountain is the core of local people’s beliefs. Therefore the aim is to conserve the physical, cultural and spiritual status of Mt. Kawagebo and stop direct or indirect destruction on the mountain body and their culture.

    Koalizzjoni
    The Kawagebo Culture Club (KCC) wants to promote Tibetan folk culture and protect the local ecological and culture environment, but they also try to promote the traditional culture and concept of nature conservation to local Tibetans. KCC, Registered in 1999 in Deqin, capital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomy in Yunnan, is a non-profit organization founded by Silang, a Tibetan Chief Liberian of Deqin and artist. This organization focuses on promoting Tibetan culture by giving free language and music instrument courses and gradually enter into environmental protection area.

    The local villagers are aided by international organizations like The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International and PCD. The Deqin government and volunteers from other places also offer substantial support.

    Azzjoni
    Peress 2003, the Kawagebo Culture Club performs different actions to raise the awareness of the local problems and their solutions. Examples are incentives against overharvesting, joint research projects, garbage cleaning projects and protection of local animal plant and animal species.

    The villagers are organizing an agreement around the villages of Mt. Kawagebo pilgrim circle, to clarify their position against mining in the region. Despite opposition from forces in business and government, villagers are on guard to face future uncertainties regarding their sacred places and natural resources.

    Riżorsi
    • Tibetani Village waqfiet Minjieri fuq Muntanji Sagra, Il-Sacred Land Film Proġett. Artikolu Ara
    • Chan, K.-man & Zhou, Y., 2007. Political Opportunity and Anti-dam Construction Movement in China. In pp. 1-27.
    • Brown, P., Magee, D. & Xu, Y., 2008. Socioeconomic vulnerability in China’s hydropower development. China Economic Review, 19(4), pp.614-627. Visit Article
    • Gongbu, Dorje, 2004. M.A. Pan-culture circle of Mt. Kawagebo and historical background, Minzu University of China. Żur il-Website
    • IR (International Rivers), 2007. Nujiang Map International Rivers. Żur il-Website
    • Ma J., 2007, Sacred Natural Sites and Biological Conservation in Kawagebo Region, The 10th Meeting of UNESCO MAB East Asian Biosphere Reserve Network (EABRN 10)
    • TBS, Tibet Bureau of Statistics, 2007. Tibet Statistical Yearbook 2007: Tibet Bureau of Statistics. Beijing: China Statistical Publishing Company, 2007.
    • Return magazine, 2010, Kawagebo Culture Club. Żur il-Website
    • Każ ta 'Studju: Il-Siti naturali Sagra ta 'Kham, Tibetani Reġjun Awtonomu, Ċina. Żur il-Website