Protecting rare birds, a firm’s loss from which all gain

A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region found a group of rosy starlings, a protected species of bird, nesting at a work site. The company suspended construction for one month to wait for the birds to finish their breeding. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Monday:

The company said they found there was a group of birds flying near their construction site as early as early June. Later, when they found the birds are rosy starlings, they suspended construction immediately.

A higher-level meeting decided to suspend construction for one month so that the birds would have ample time to finish breeding and hatching their young. Now the construction program is still in suspension, a move that is estimated will result in the company having to bear an extra cost of 1 million yuan ($150,791).

It’s a praiseworthy move. Nowadays, it is increasingly rare for people to see birds in cities because of the destruction of their habitat. Now, with the sense of environmental protection strengthened, there is more awareness of the need to protect wildlife.

Some say the company has suffered a loss in protecting the rosy starlings. However, the move is worth it, because one can always make money, but if rosy starlings have their breeding disturbed they will likely never return. Data show that in the past 50 years, about 73 species of birds and animals have become extinct. And about 180 species are nearing the brink of extinction.

Of course, in order to encourage more companies to take similar moves, it is necessary to prevent losses for them. For example, the legislators should consider passing laws to cut taxes for companies that suffer losses protecting wildlife, so that the good deed of the company in Xinjiang will be emulated by more.