Washington Patriot: 3rd ISSUE OF 2010: REVIEW OF THIBAW

In January, The Patriot was copied on a letter to Sir Conway Dalrymple, Chairman of Wordsworth Energy, sent from Montague Tigg, Master, Milton College. His letter addressed the issue of the threat to the dwarf tapir population in Thibaw and a full copy can be viewed below.

We have recently been approached by a source in the UK who has informed us that Mr. Tigg has yet to receive any response on this letter from Wordsworth. This news has spread rapidly and many people in the UK have become very concerned over the issue. Over the past few months, we have tried to get more concrete information from Wordsworth about how they plan to address this issue, but have only been given vague, tentative plans. Even in their recent environmental impact assessment, conducted by a third party, Wordsworth does not take ownership for solid plans to find a solution for their pipeline that will prevent the extinction of the dwarf tapir.

Please see below for a copy of the letter.:

Copy of Letter recently received by Sir Conway Dalrymple

Friends of the Dwarf Tapir
Patron: His Grace the Duke of Chichester

Sir Conway Dalrymple
Chairman, Wordsworth Energy International
Dove House
Grasmere Street
London EC 4RQ Milton College
Cambridge


7th January 2010

Dear Sir Conway:

I refer to our pleasant opportunity to reminisce about our undergraduate days when we met at the annual dinner of the Dryden Society last month and to your indication that you were ready to hear more of the case I might wish to make on behalf of the Dwarf Tapir.

You will be aware from our discussion that less then [sic] 200 breeding examples of these rare mammals still exist in the wild and that their last habitats, in the Lai-Ha Valley of Thibaw, have come under severe threat as a result of the tensions that have wracked that unhappy country in recent years. These tensions and, I regret to say, the complicity of many in government who should be responsible for the suppression of poaching in profiting from it, has resulted in massive commercial hunting of these creatures. Their hooves - which are regarded as an aphrodisiac in many countries in the Far East - represent the source of profit.

The only factor currently in the Dwarf Tapir's favour is the remoteness of its habitat. Roads into the mountain foothills to the north and south of the Lai-Ha Valley are badly deteriorated due to lack of maintenance but were access to be improved there is little doubt that the entire species would become extinct in the two to three years.

From the above you will appreciate the urgency with which the organisation of which I have the honour to be Honorary President is urging declaration of the northern parts of the Pauk Mountains, and of the entirety of the Lai-Ha Valley, to be a protected area. This would mean, among much else, that no further road construction would be permitted in the area. This would not be at the expense of the local inhabitants since the areas in question are very sparsely settled in the first place.

You will also appreciate why the Friends of the Dwarf Tapir view with such alarm reports in the financial and technical press that Wordsworth Energy is contemplating construction of a pipeline through the Lai-Ha Valley. Any such action would toll the death-knell of the Dwarf Tapir - a tragedy not just for the species itself but for all of us who value bio-diversity.

In view of the above I would appreciate your clear assurance that Wordsworth Energy will not construct any such pipeline and will seek alternative, and environmentally acceptable, methods for evacuation of oil from its Block 45 development in Thibaw.

I would appreciate your answer in the coming week as I would like to present it at the Annual General meeting of our organisation. Please also copy other recipients of this letter.

Yours Faithfully:

Montague Tigg

Montague Tigg (KCB)
Master, Milton College
Honorary President, “Friends of the Dwarf Tapir"