Ecology key to rebuilding quake zone

When tears run dry for the loss of our loved ones to the devastating May 12th earthquake, we have the urge to pick up the broken pieces and start reconstruction rightaway.

But environmentalists and ecologists have begun to caution against haste. Pan Yue, vice-minister of environmental protection, stated it clearly on Tuesday that reconstruction in the disaster-hit areas should not simply mean restoring what the quake razed.

A sound evaluation of the geological and ecological environment should be one of the basic tasks to be carried out as a foundation for the prevention of natural disasters and reduction of their effect in this disaster-prone region.