Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province has 582 kilometers of coastline and 769,700 hectares of wetlands, which breeds the coastal wetlands with the largest area and the best ecological protection on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean and the edge of the Asian continent. About 3 million migratory birds stop, breed and spend the winter here every year, which is East Asia — The central node of migratory birds’ migration route in Australasia. In 2019, the China Yellow Sea (Bohai Sea) migratory bird habitat (Phase I) located in Yancheng City was successfully listed in the World Heritage List.
The picture shows the sunrise scene of Dongtai Tiaozi Mud Wetland in Yancheng City.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Lei photo
Red-crowned cranes fly in groups in Yancheng Wetland National Rare Bird Nature Reserve, Jiangsu Province.
Photo by Chen Guoyuan
There are 190,890 hectares of wetlands in Changde, Hunan Province, including 136,800 hectares of protected areas, with a protection rate of 71.66%. The picture shows the Chuanzi River in the city.
Photo by Chen Junjun
A few days ago, Chinese and foreign delegates attending the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands in Wuhan visited the 30th Anniversary Achievement Exhibition of the Convention on Wetlands in China.
Photo by Jin Zhenqiang
Recently, a large number of wintering migratory birds flew to the West Dongting Lake Nature Reserve in Changde, Hunan. As an important wetland in the world, it will become a passage and stop for migratory birds in autumn and winter every year.
The picture shows cygnets and grey geese photographed in the wetland of West Dongting Lake in Hunan Province in November.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Si Khan photo
In 2005, Xixi National Wetland Park in Hangzhou, Zhejiang opened. At that time, Xixi Wetland Reserve, with a total area of 10.08 square kilometers, was the first national wetland park in China integrating urban wetland, agricultural wetland and cultural wetland. Wetland is located in the northwest of Hangzhou, which is known as "paradise and green lungs" and has ecological functions such as water conservation, water purification, flood storage, beautification of the environment and climate regulation. Today, Xixi Wetland, with a total protected area of about 11.5 square kilometers, has become an important resource for building a livable city where people live in harmony with nature and coexist and prosper together.
The picture shows the staff of Xixi Wetland transporting freshly picked persimmons by boat.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi photo
The achievements of wetland protection in China in the past 30 years, as well as the grand goals and management methods of wetland protection, have formed the "China sample" of wetland protection.
From November 5 to 13, the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands was held simultaneously in Wuhan, Hubei, China and Geneva. With the theme of "cherishing wetlands, harmony between man and nature", the conference is committed to rallying the consensus of all parties, promoting global wetland protection cooperation and writing a new chapter in the sustainable development of mankind.
The wetland protection scheme and experience with China characteristics have been widely praised.
Wetland, forest and ocean are also called the three major ecosystems of the earth, which are important natural resources and unique ecosystems, fertile soil for the gestation, inheritance and development of human civilization, and precious natural heritage left by the earth to mankind.
The Convention on Wetlands is called the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat. It is one of the earliest intergovernmental multilateral environmental conventions, dedicated to the protection and rational utilization of the global wetland ecosystem and promoting the sustainable development of mankind. This is the first time that China has hosted the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands.
"Everything has its own harmony and life, and each has its own cultivation." At this conference, the China wisdom of wetland protection has become a topic of general concern to all countries. Government officials from all over the world, experts in wetland protection, representatives of wetland parks and nature reserves, and representatives of international organizations gathered in Wuhan to share wetland protection cases, sum up and listen to the successful experience of wetland protection in China, and jointly promote the protection and sustainable utilization of wetlands in the world.
Chen Peng, Secretary-General of china green foundation, summarized the "Oriental Wisdom of Wetland Protection" into seven aspects: natural restoration is the mainstay, supplemented by artificial means; Optimize conservation measures and increase management and protection; Strengthen professional training and expand the talent team; Give consideration to protection and development, and promote the interaction between the two mountains; Relying on scientific and technological progress, be brave in pioneering and innovating; Pay attention to open cooperation and strengthen multi-party exchanges; Organize and mobilize extensively to carry out nature education.
"Compared with other countries in the world, China has made full use of traditional oriental wisdom and explored a variety of excellent wetland management methods." Meng Xianlin, director of the Executive Committee Office of the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands, said that China has been constantly thinking, changing and exploring in practice on the road of building ecological civilization, from the unity of man and nature and the coexistence of all things to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.
Since joining the Convention on Wetlands in 1992, China has adhered to the concept of ecological civilization and green development, actively fulfilled the purposes and obligations of the Convention, and formed a wetland protection road with China characteristics.
"Thirty years is not a short time. We have witnessed the wisdom and leadership in wetland protection in China." Musonda Mumba, Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands, said that other contracting parties can learn from China’s achievements in wetland protection in the past 30 years, as well as its ambitious goals and management methods, including not only scientific methods, but also spatial layout plans and legislative frameworks to promote global cooperation and form synergies.
"In our view, the traditional wetland utilization in China has a lot of best practices, such as traditional production and lifestyle such as mulberry fish ponds and rice-eel farming. It is a typical case of long-term acquisition of products in a healthy ecosystem and a simple sustainable economic model." Lu Lunyan, the chief representative of WWF Beijing Representative Office, said that today’s oriental wisdom of wetland protection not only comes from the traditional way of wetland utilization, but also is based on new practices and new thinking in current global governance, economic level, social status and technological innovation.
Meng Xianlin believes that the wisdom of protecting wetlands in China is not only reflected in the country’s efforts to strengthen the rule of law and strategic planning, but also to improve the monitoring ability of wetlands and the scientific and technological support in the field of protection and restoration by relying on scientific and technological progress, key technology research, and standard construction; Always adhere to openness, strengthen international cooperation and exchanges, and make full use of the strength of international organizations.
The Wetland Protection Law lays a solid foundation for wetland protection in China.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) Wetland Protection Law, which came into effect on June 1 this year, clearly states: "People’s governments at or above the county level should adhere to the principle of giving priority to natural restoration and combining natural restoration with artificial restoration, strengthen wetland restoration, restore wetland area and improve the quality of wetland ecosystem."
Known as the "guardian of the coast", mangrove is a woody plant community growing in the intertidal zone of tropical and subtropical coasts, which plays a role in maintaining biodiversity, preventing wind and waves, purifying seawater and storing and fixing carbon.
Liao Baowen, director of the Mangrove Research Center of the Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, said that in recent years, China issued documents such as Wetland Protection and Restoration System Scheme and Mangrove Ecological Restoration Technical Guide, which strongly advocated the concept of "giving priority to protection, giving priority to natural restoration, and combining artificial restoration with natural restoration". After long-term practice, China has established a relatively perfect technical standard system for mangrove restoration.
"In the past, the construction and restoration of mangroves only focused on the vegetation itself, but now more attention is paid to the overall functional recovery of mangrove ecosystems." According to Liao Baowen, mangroves are the most open among all natural ecosystems under the influence of tides. Excessive emphasis on mangrove vegetation may lead to ecological risks in the restoration project; Too much emphasis on artificial restoration will also reduce the space for natural restoration of mangroves. There are 37 species of mangrove plants in China. In the process of restoration, we should try our best to choose native species and reduce the planting of exotic species.
"In addition to planting trees, we should also leave some tidal gullies, light beaches and shallow waters for wildlife. For example, in a 100-mu tidal flat, the planting of mangroves should not exceed 60 mu in principle, and the remaining 40% of the space is reserved for birds and other animals. " Liao Baowen said, "The next step is to systematically and comprehensively deploy mangrove wetland ecosystem protection and restoration work, especially to leave enough ecological space for mangrove natural restoration."
There are many types of wetlands and a wide distribution area in China, which breeds a rich variety of wetland wildlife. Scientific wetland protection and restoration is of great significance to the protection and restoration of rare and endangered species and biodiversity.
On November 11th, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province was awarded the certificate of "International Wetland City" at the Geneva branch of the conference. Chen Zhizhou, deputy director of the management office of Yancheng National Rare Bird Nature Reserve in Jiangsu Province, said in the forum that Yancheng Wetland National Rare Bird Nature Reserve mainly protects rare wild animals such as red-crowned cranes and the coastal wetland ecosystem on which they depend.
"In terms of wetland ecological management, we adhere to the restoration plan based on nature, and have successively implemented pilot projects such as water diversion to replenish moisture, returning fishing to moisture, reed control and Spartina alterniflora control." Chen Zhizhou introduced.
Every year, about 4/5 of the wild red-crowned cranes in China spend the winter here. In recent years, artificial breeding and wild research of red-crowned cranes have been carried out in the nature reserve, and 42 red-crowned cranes have been bred this year. It has been found that wild red-crowned cranes have been successfully bred in the wild for five consecutive years.
The total area of the reserve is about 247,300 hectares. How to strengthen management and control while repairing is a task that staff must face.
"We use information technology to monitor the wetland ecology full-time, equipped with 2 patrol cars, 6 drones and 297 surveillance cameras; Carry out the functional reform of management and protection stations and build four standard management and protection stations. " Chen Zhizhou said that the nature reserve and the forestry department have formed a linkage mechanism to jointly build a network of ecological protection and wildlife management.
"China practice" makes green mountains and green hills become Jinshan Yinshan.
Zhanjiang, Guangdong, with dense mangroves and wintering migratory birds. In recent years, on the basis of consolidating the green development trend, Zhanjiang has made great efforts to explore and promote the value of ecological resources. Accelerate the construction of marine carbon neutral pilot cities, Zhanjiang mangrove project has become the first blue carbon and carbon sink project in China, and mangroves are gradually becoming "golden forests".
The Law on Wetland Protection puts forward "to realize the unity of ecological benefits, social benefits and economic benefits", and strives to solve the contradiction between wetland protection and utilization. How to protect in development and develop in protection? Experts said, stick to the concept of Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and explore a high-quality development path of giving priority to protection and rational utilization.
Curved water bends around the ring, surrounded by mountains, and famous gardens and ancient temples are connected by heels. As the first national wetland park in China, xixi national wetland park, Zhejiang Province organically combines the city, people and wetlands, which not only restores the wetlands, improves the urban environment and functions, but also significantly improves people’s income and happiness.
Where is the wisdom of Xixi wetland protection? Chen Lin, director of the Ecological and Cultural Research Center of Xixi National Wetland Park in Hangzhou, introduced that on the one hand, it is protection and restoration, and the natural and cultural heritage is salvaged by intercepting sewage, introducing water into the park and restoring vegetation ecology, so as to restore 45 natural and cultural landscapes such as Qiuxue Temple and Xixi Caotang, and preserve the authenticity, integrity and continuity of Xixi Wetland.
On the other hand, it is practice and utilization, developing folk festivals and developing eco-tourism. Promote the employment of indigenous people, engage in fishing, farming and management services, and share the fruits and benefits of protection and utilization. According to statistics, since the opening of the park in 2005, the cumulative operating income of Xixi Wetland is nearly 2.2 billion yuan, which has a strong demonstration and radiation effect on promoting the sustainable economic and social development of surrounding areas.
Changde City, Hunan Province is located on the west bank of Dongting Lake, which contains Chengtoushan rice-growing wetland civilization. "The urban ecology of natural integration of life communities such as mountains, water, forests, fields and lakes forms a pattern of rich wetland resources and unique charm in Changde." Gong Dehan, former vice mayor of Changde City, introduced that there are 190,890 hectares of wetlands in the city, including 136,800 hectares of protected areas, with a protection rate of 71.66%.
In recent years, Changde City has improved local laws and regulations on wetland protection, strengthened special rectification and systematic management, and implemented water replenishment, water diversion and clear water, and river-lake connection projects, making the city more livable, and citizens have more sense of acquisition when enjoying green mountains and green waters.
"Turning green into gold" can not be separated from the strength of enterprises, organizations and the public. China Environmental Protection Foundation, together with Melaleuca (China) Commodity Co., Ltd., is promoting the protection and restoration of coastal wetlands, including seagrass beds, and the improvement of carbon sink benefits of blue carbon ecosystem in a scientific and orderly manner; In Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, Wuhan Optics Valley Shanshui Public Welfare Foundation and the local community opened their posts, set up a black-necked crane monitoring team, and tried to plant grass to alleviate grassland degradation in plateau wetlands & HELIP; … At this conference, a sideline meeting and sub-forum conveyed new thoughts and new paths for the interaction and transformation of "two mountains".
"China Proposition" Helps the New Development of Global Wetland Protection
In the practice of wetland protection in China, the participation and assistance of international organizations have also contributed. At this conference, representatives of many international organizations and foreign countries expounded their respective work in wetland protection in China and the reference significance of China’s wisdom to global action and international cooperation in wetland protection.
"In the cause of wetland protection in China, WWF is not only an observer, but also an advocate and supporter." Lu Lunyan said that since WWF set up the Yangtze River and Freshwater Protection Project for more than 20 years, it has made a large number of demonstrations in terms of in-situ wetland protection, artificial wetland water purification, community participation and other sustainable wetland utilization. Actively advocate the Convention on Wetlands, assist protected areas to declare wetlands of international importance, and assist cities to declare and build international wetland cities.
"More than 20 years ago, our colleagues were committed to introducing the world’s advanced wetland protection and management experience to China to solve the problems in the freshwater ecosystem." Lu Lunyan said that today, China has played a leading role in the field of wetlands in many global protection issues. Therefore, WWF not only contributes to the wetland protection itself, but also hopes to play a "bridge" role in the exchange between China and the international wetland stage.
As the international executing agency of the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has cooperated with governments at all levels in China for 28 years and jointly implemented a series of biodiversity projects.
"Wetland protection has always been a priority area supported by a series of implementation projects." Ma Chaode, assistant representative of the United Nations Development Programme in China, said that during the seventh replenishment period of the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Programme and the State Forestry and Grassland Bureau jointly launched "East Asia — China migratory bird protection network construction project of Australasia migration route ".
"We introduced international successful experience, through extensive experiments and demonstrations, combined with China ‘ Taoism is natural ’ Oriental wisdom, strengthen the capacity building of all stakeholders, and comprehensively enhance the awareness of ecological environmental protection of the whole society, through ‘ Small hands pull big hands, big hands pull small hands ’ The way has raised public awareness. " Ma Chaode said.
"In recent years, the global wetland situation is not optimistic, which has an impact on biodiversity, the balance of adjacent ecosystems and the development of countries themselves." Venezuelan Ambassador to China Giuseppe Jovreda said that China has made historic achievements in wetland protection, and the recent implementation of the Wetland Protection Law provides an important reference for countries to improve relevant laws. Venezuela is willing to work closely with China to practice the concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature and contribute to the global process of wetland protection.
The ancients in China once wrote, "The crane is heard in Jiugao, and the sound is heard in the wild.". For thousands of years, Haohao Tangtang has been sharing weal and woe with wetlands and living in harmony, and has been integrated into the blood of Chinese civilization. Up to now, China has been integrated into the world wetland protection family, showing the vitality of wetland protection and restoration with oriental wisdom. Looking to the future, China will continue to contribute to the global wetland protection.
Chain connection
Wetland protection in China has gone through three stages: finding out the family background and laying a solid foundation, rescue protection and comprehensive protection, and with the implementation of the Wetland Protection Law, it has entered a new stage of legal development. Today, the wetland area in China has reached 56.35 million hectares, accounting for 4% of the world’s wetland, which meets the needs of one-fifth of the world’s population for wetland production, life, ecology and culture, and has made important contributions to the global wetland protection and rational utilization.