Current location:business >>
Birds, locals in harmony under China's wetland conservation
business3People have gathered around
IntroductionMigratory birds are seen in Chenhu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve in Wuhan, capital of central China's ...
Migratory birds are seen in Chenhu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
WUHAN, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Hopping through reeds, guiding chicks to float and flutter, and sometimes soaring high in the sky, this summer more migratory birds have perched and bred in Chenhu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province.
"The pheasant-tailed jacana is hatching eggs!" said Wei Bin, vice head of the Wuhan birding association and a photographer, pointing at the long-tailed bird with a chocolate brown body, golden neck and white face.
Since this spring, Wei has spotted some locally rare birds, including white cranes, greater flamingos and Chinese mergansers at the wetland, and used his lens to document their appearances and behaviors.
Over 20,000 migratory birds have been observed in the 11,579-hectare nature reserve this summer, according to Feng Jiang, an engineer who has been working for the management bureau of the reserve for the past 14 years.
Migratory birds are seen in Chenhu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
However, the number of birds around Chenhu Lake once declined drastically due to damage to the ecosystem.
"The polluted lake water was brown and stinky," said Feng, adding that the wetland reserve's water quality was rated below Grade V before 2019, the lowest level of China's five-tier water assessment system.
In the past three years, local authorities have restored over 5,200-hectare wetland, demolishing farming facilities and aquaculture nets enclosing the lake, said Feng.
Li Jianjun, a local wetland ranger, said, "I once did not care about the birds, but now I can identify many bird species."
His current job is to rescue wounded birds and prevent fowling and fishing activities. Li used to reap reeds in the lake, which were sold to paper fabricating plants as raw materials.
With more local paper mills shut down due to pollution concerns, all reeds workers of Li's cooperative have been reemployed as wetland rangers since 2019.
"We patrol the wetland three times a day," Li said.
Since 2017, over 6 million yuan (about 870,612 U.S. dollars) have been allocated to villages and their residents neighboring the reserve each year, for their environmental protection efforts, relocation, and living expenses.
With fewer human interferences, some birds sensitive to water quality have been observed. Last year, five Dalmatian pelicans, waterfowls with iconic giant beaks which have a population of less than 150 in East Asia, were spotted in the wetland, according to Feng.
"When a wild greater flamingo stood among a flock of little waterfowls, everyone was astonished," said Wei. He added that the migration route of the greater flamingo does not pass through central China, suggesting that this one might have wandered away from its peers during migration.
"The restored diverse ecology provided the flamingo with plenty of food such as algae, shellfish and insects, while the lush reed clusters were perfect shelters," said Wei. It spent the winter in the wetland and flew away this spring.
The number of bird species in the wetland had increased to 277 by 2021, including 14 species under national first-class protection and 50 under second-class protection.
A migratory bird is seen in Chenhu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Chenhu Lake is one of 64 wetlands designated as wetlands of international importance in China. The country has also set up over 600 wetland nature reserves and 1,600 wetland parks.
The 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP14) will be held this November, with its main venue in Wuhan.
Fang Ying, Feng's colleague and director of the management bureau, said the reserve now focuses on connecting ponds, rivers and lakes.
"Water quality will improve once currents increase," said Fang. "Waterfowls will live in more diversified spaces and the biodiversity of the wetland will be strengthened." ■
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Worldly Wonders news portal”。http://belize.whetstonetavern.com/news-8d199910.html
Related articles
Nicaragua severs diplomatic relations with Ecuador after assault on Mexican embassy
businessNicaragua on Saturday severed "all diplomatic relations" with Ecuador, following the assau ...
【business】
Read moreWorld's largest energy corridor generates impressive power
businessThe world's largest clean energy corridor generated more than 276 billion kilowatt-hours of green po ...
【business】
Read moreGuangdong's manufacturers stand out from pack
businessThe manufacturing sector, which has been prioritized across Guangdong province — an economic powerho ...
【business】
Read more
Popular articles
- Finnish carrier suspends Estonia flights after GPS interference prevents 2 landings
- 'Global status far off for China's carmakers'
- Railway logistics centers complete
- Automotive future lies in integrated technology: Research
- Democratic mayor joins Kentucky GOP lawmakers to celebrate state funding for Louisville
- Railway logistics centers complete
Latest articles
Twins bring Carlos Correa back from IL after 16
World's largest energy corridor generates impressive power
Xi Story: President Xi's Sports Aspiration
NASA's next Mars mission to probe deep interior of red planet
Who is Humza Yousaf's wife Nadia El
China renews blue alerts for severe convection weather, sandstorms
LINKS
- Shaolin Kung Fu competition enthralls martial arts enthusiasts in Oceania
- Chinese embassy in U.S. hosts Discover Beijing Opera cultural event
- Craft Project fair held in old Damascus, Syria
- China's Miao embroidery shows at Milan Fashion Week
- A sneak peek inside China's first Northeast folk culture
- Chinese, Ethiopian education institutions agree to promote skills development in technology
- Flying Tigers members mark 80th anniversary of U.S. force's participation in China's resistance war
- Street dance in China
- Ozuna's 3
- Suns skip play