Wetland decline threaten endangered waterbirds species in China

Photo: CFP

Studies have shown that the "East Asian-Australasian" sharp drop in migratory waterbird populations on the route of one of the main reasons, coastal wetland in China continued to decline.

9 global migratory routes, across 22 countries "East Asian-Australasian" route is the most important one, 492 species of about 50 million waterfowl annually plying the route, 246 of which lay in China coastal wetlands, breeding or wintering. Beijing forestry University nature reserve, said Lei Guangchun, Dean, currently on the road near 50%-birds decreased. Endangered species of water birds at least 27 of them, almost half of the world's endangered waterfowl species, there are 22 through China.

Released on October 19, "research on coastal wetland protection and management strategies in China" (Paulson's Fund, China's State Forestry Bureau and the Institute of geographical sciences and natural resources research cooperation), ever since the 50 's of last century, China's 73% of the 53% of the temperate coastal wetlands, mangroves and 80% coral reefs disappeared – all of which are an important habitat for migratory processes. According to the 2012 plan, by 2020 China's 11 coastal provinces and cities have 246,900 hectare reclamation targets. This trend of 800 million acres of wetland protection in China the red line will be broken.

Reports that fast a large area of land reclamation and reclamation is a major cause of coastal wetland area is reduced. Currently has built a seawall (cure coasts) of coastline has been a quarter of China's total length of the coastline of 61%. A large number of wetlands disappeared, to the few suitable habitats for migratory birds are forced to concentrate. If the final destruction of Habitat, migratory birds would die out because of too late to adapt to changes in Habitat.

East Asia-Australasia on the route of migratory birds, and North to the Arctic Circle, South to Australia, and New Zealand. On the road half of the 10 most important wetlands in China, ranked first in the Poyang Lake. Direct flights will fall across parts of the bird Group Australia New Zealand, moved north in the spring when most of the birds need wetland areas on the migratory route for supplies, some migratory birds reach half of the wetland in the middle weight only when they started, if there is insufficient supply will not be able to fly back to Northern destinations.

And Zhang zhengwang, Professor of Beijing Normal University said to chinadialogue, survival of birds almost totally dependent on the survival of a particular wetland in China. A migratory bird called the Red Knot Calidris, moved north in the spring when passing the Bohai Bay, because of suitable Wetland Habitat has been reduced, 80% coastal wetland in luannan, Hebei province ceased a month with energy. Currently wetlands only 12 km of coastline, still faces threat of reclamation and reclamation. "Agreed in March this year as an important wetland in Hebei province, but have yet to be effectively protected. "He said.

In fact, with the development of China's economy, reduced rate also increased in coastal wetlands, reduce 23% just 2003-2013 years (reduction of 53% the past 50 years), but the protection there is a major problem. These reports indicate that 140 coastal meets the East Asian-Australasian birds in wetlands protection standards the network, there are 69 are not protected. Tianjin, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong and other provinces and cities in the economically developed, but coastal wetlands protection rates are relatively low. There are reasons of rapid economic development, there are also factors such as regulations are not perfect, such as wetland in China's land use types are classified as unused land, cultivated into arable land or construction of landfill sites are often appropriate in the planning easier.

Importance lies not only in coastal wetlands provide habitat for migratory birds. They have water purification, flood control, slowing the action such as storm surges, typhoon damage, is an important ecological barrier in coastal areas. G. c. Lei said in late 2004 India Ocean tsunami, 8 International Mangrove Wetlands because mangroves protect coastal residents, without casualties.

Report based on the survey results in the delimitation of 180 key coastal protected areas, including the 11 most important migratory bird habitat, and hope that the Government will take immediate protective measures to protect it.

"I can't say with confidence, but now save (migratory routes) wetlands haven't closed the door, we should try to grasp the opportunity. The "East Asian-Australasian flyway Spike Mr Millington said to chinadialogue, Chief Executive of the Commission. Since China started to take the wetland protection from top, his protection effectiveness of China look forward to. He said at the report launch, United Kingdom Government Government has destroyed a large number of coastal wetlands because of economic development, and regret. Recognizing the importance of wetlands and protection is very important.

However, g. c. Lei, Beijing forestry University Professor, is the establishment of protected areas does not solve the problem of ecological degradation. He said China dialogue: "odd protected areas over the past more than 100 years, accounting for 14% of the world's total land area, but biodiversity is in decline. We want to do, is how to coordinate the relationship between human and social development. "

(Author: Zhang chun, China dialogue Beijing, Office edit; we get "China dialogue" authorization "China dialogue" is the world's first fully bilingual Web site dedicated to environmental issues, seeking solutions for the environmental challenges we face. ） In 2030 the population of China or negative growth