Restoration of Central Wetland and Protection of Common Homeland
2024-07-30
Wetlands, forests, and oceans are collectively known as the three major ecosystems in the world. Wetlands have the characteristics of diverse types and wide distribution, and are very important ecological and environmental resources. However, wetland ecosystems are extremely fragile, and once damaged or destroyed, restoration work can be complex, difficult, and lengthy. In 2012, in order to implement the concept of green development, Guangzhou made an important decision to abandon the commercial development value of trillions of acres of land and restore the disappearing 10000 acre orchard in the central area of the city to become the largest national wetland park in the central area of mega cities in China. That's when I entered the field of wetland conservation and began working on ecological restoration. Having been engaged in wetland conservation work for over ten years, I have witnessed the birth of countless ecological wonders, such as the five-star home "Egret Island" specially designed for egrets. This is a small island on the central axis of Guangzhou city, with an area of only about 1300 square meters, located at the southwest corner of Haizhu Lake, less than 3 kilometers away from Guangzhou Tower. Eight years ago, there were neither trees nor birds on the island. After ecological restoration, the island became the closest breeding ground for herons to the people in the province, with over 500 young herons born here every year. This change is mainly due to several important restoration measures: firstly, creating shallow waters along the lake shoreline by retreating not far from the island, leaving behind a large number of small fish and shrimp during the ebb and flow of the tide every day, providing abundant food for birds; The second is to plant native tree species such as Ficus microcarpa and Eucommia ulmoides on the island to provide good nesting conditions for egrets; The third is to build a floating island around the island and establish a deep water grass beach system, with low grass providing a leisure place for birds. With the continuous improvement of facilities such as the "dining room," "bedroom," and "living room," this place has attracted the arrival of various egrets such as egrets, herons, night herons, and pond herons, with a population of over 1000. Rice paddies are also important places for us to carry out ecological restoration. The comprehensive protection of Haizhu Wetland is closely related to the first national land acquisition policy of "only requisition without conversion". All the land in Haizhu Wetland is agricultural land, and some of the land is even arable land. In order to solve the problem of farmland protection and ecological restoration, we have turned the rice paddies on farmland into a paradise for birds and waterfowl. We propose a rice field gain system, which sparsely cultivates rice according to ecological planting methods and leaves shallow water areas in the paddy fields. The traditional plowway is transformed into a fishway, and the tidal system is utilized to create suitable habitats for benthic and aquatic organisms such as fish, shrimp, crabs, loaches, and river clams. Rice paddies have not only become a beloved "dining hall" for birds, but also a great place for many water birds to play and forage. Nowadays, flocks of striped birds and white waisted striped birds can be seen everywhere in rice fields, and the national first-class protected bird, the yellow breasted bunting, often comes out to show off. After long-term and unremitting efforts, the restored Haizhu Wetland has become a true "paradise for fish and birds". The number of wetland plants has increased from 294 to 835, the number of birds has increased from 72 to 198, and the number of insect species has increased from 42 to 832. In the first half of 2024, there will be four new bird species in Haizhu Wetland, including the national first-class protected animal "Bird China Treasure" Oriental White Stork, which has become an important indicator for the restoration of Guangzhou's urban ecological environment and a witness to the high-quality development of Haizhu Wetland protection. (New Society)
Edit：Xiong Dafei Responsible editor：Li Xiang
Source：GMW.cn
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