Environment
Northern China Restores More Than 27,000 Hectares of Coastal Wetlands
More than 200 kilometres of coastline and over 27,000 hectares of coastal wetlands across northern China were restored or rehabilitated during the 14...
By Wavers Multimedia
The figures were contained in a bulletin recently released by the North China Sea Bureau of the Ministry of Natural Resources, according to a China Daily report. The areas covered include Tianjin and the provinces of Shandong, Liaoning and Hebei.
The bulletin said marine ecological conservation and restoration efforts across the region made significant progress during the five-year period.
Among the projects, 5,785 hectares of coastal salt marshes, 1,167 hectares of seagrass beds and 4,050 hectares of oyster reefs were restored.
A further 51 kilometres of sandy coastline were rehabilitated, while 125 kilometres of seawalls underwent ecological transformation.
The restoration also helped expand coastal salt marshes. Their total area increased by 51 per cent compared with 2020, while the overall removal rate of Spartina alterniflora, an invasive cordgrass species, exceeded 94 per cent.
The ecological work has also produced results for wildlife and coastal habitats.
The Nandagang Wetland migratory bird habitat was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the period. In addition, 33 bays were named national-level “Beautiful Bays”, while six islands or island groups received national-level “Hemei Islands” recognition.
The restoration projects have also helped strengthen the region’s ability to withstand coastal hazards.
The Tianjiaoshan area in Huludao, Liaoning, and a seawall in Weifang, Shandong, withstood storm surges, according to the bulletin.
Meanwhile, the Yellow River estuary and Liaohe River estuary have developed into important stopover sites for migratory birds.
The latest figures highlight the progress made in restoring northern China’s coastal ecosystems during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.