Wenzhou nominated for the title of “International Wetland City”

Wenzhou, situated on the southeastern coast of China, is renowned for its extensive coastline and unique geographical conditions, encompassing 223,300 hectares of diverse wetlands, ranking among the foremost in Zhejiang Province. Known as a haven for birds and a hub of shellfish, Wenzhou has recently received a letter from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), officially nominating it to pursue certification as an International Wetland City under the Convention on Wetlands. This nomination signifies a pivotal step forward for Wenzhou on its path to becoming an“International Wetland City”.

The title of International Wetland City represents the highest achievement of a city in wetland ecological protection and serves as an important window to showcase the achievements of ecological civilization protection. Since the launch of the international wetland city creation in February 2021, under the leadership of the Wenzhou Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning(WBNRP), Wenzhou has benchmarked the“five standards” for the creation of an international wetland city, promoted the construction of the“five systems”, and explored the formation of the“Wenzhou Path” for wetland protection and restoration.

The“green lung” of the city refreshes the mind

Wenzhou, born and thriving because of water, has“innate” advantages in natural wetlands. The city’s wetland protection area spans 136,000 hectares, with a protection rate of 61.09%, and the quality and function of the wetland ecosystem are steadily improving.

Last year, the WBNRP pioneered the establishment of the country’s first municipal-level mangrove research center. The province’s inaugural mangrove blue carbon trading initiative settled in Wenzhou, and Wenzhou’s initiative of“Building a Mangrove‘in the North Bridgehead’” was recognized as a national model for marine ecological protection and restoration. These efforts were highlighted in a special report by CCTV’s“News Investigation” program, further enhancing Wenzhou’s reputation as a leading coastal wetland city.

In September 2023, the expert assessment team from the NFGA visited Wenzhou to inspect and guide the creation of the international wetland city. They noted Wenzhou’s strong commitment to wetland protection and acknowledged the substantial progress made in enhancing the wetland ecosystem. In November of the same year, Yan Zhen, Deputy Director of the NFGA, conducted further research on wetland initiatives in the city and praised Wenzhou’s strategic proposal to“develop a coastal wetland city featuring‘three rivers with clear waters, a coastline stretching a thousand miles, and vast expanses of water towns’”.

In February of last year, Nanji Island was successfully designated as an internationally significant wetland, becoming the second world-class wetland in Zhejiang Province after Xixi Wetland and the first marine world-class wetland. In October of the same year, Longgang Xinmeizhou Wetland was successfully designated as a nationally significant wetland. Currently, the city boasts one internationally significant wetland, one nationally significant wetland, and eight provincially significant wetlands.

As the saying goes,“birds are the final judges of the quality of wetlands.” Through effective protection and management, Wenzhou ensures the smooth migration of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway through the city. In recent years, Wenzhou has become home to numerous rare bird species, with over 300 identified, including the dalmatian pelicans, Chinese black-headed gulls, Far Eastern curlews, black-faced spoonbills, swinhoe’s egrets, and spoon-billed sandpipers. Both the Sanyang Wetland and Dongtou Nanbeipan Mountain have been recognized as premier bird-watching destinations in Zhejiang Province.

Wetland management reshapes the landscape

“At sunset, I boat through the Orange Harbor, where soft rosy clouds trace the path, guiding towards a utopian realm.” This poetic line evokes the beauty of the wetland. Recently, rain and mist shrouded the Sanyang Wetland, where egrets gracefully danced and circled above the lake, leaving elegant arcs that added a unique charm to the misty landscape.

Wenzhou is blessed with abundant natural resources that provide a strong ecological backdrop. However, sustaining a healthy environment amidst modernization and urbanization requires more than just natural gifts.

In the past, prolonged agricultural development and human activities had greatly degraded the wetland qualities of the Sanyang Wetland. To safeguard the ecosystem, Wenzhou has implemented substantial measures. It established the Regulations on the Protection and Management of Wenzhou Eco-park, carried out a three-year plan to relocate the entire old villages in the wetland, and prioritized the construction of the Sanyang Wetland Park as a key city development project. Since 2003, the wetland has seen notable improvements: hosting over 500 additional species of vascular plants and more than 90 bird species. The biodiversity index (BI) has risen by 16 points. Currently, 60% of the water areas in the wetland meets Class III water standards, with certain areas meeting Class II water quality criteria.

The head of the WBNRP pointed out that wetland management and protection is a complex, long-term systemic endeavor that requires the participation of all stakeholders. In recent years, Wenzhou has been pushing for specialized legislation on wetland protection, with the Wetland Protection Measures in Wenzhou coming into effect on August 1, 2023.

Furthermore, Wenzhou has established specialized institutions for wetland protection and management at both city and county levels to ensure precise oversight of wetland conservation and development. It has implemented the“Six Supervisors” mechanism: the CPC Wenzhou Municipal Committee and Wenzhou Municipal Government lead the supervision, Wenzhou’s People’s Congress and the Wenzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference conduct inspections, disciplinary organizations ensure efficiency, the media provide exposure, the public and social organizations report issues, and specialized institutions conduct regular supervision. This innovative approach aims to create a political platform of“public participation, media scrutiny, and interaction between officials and the public”. Moreover, Wenzhou has organized televised Question and Answer campaigns focused on“water control” and“wetland protection”, demonstrating a commitment to persistent problem-solving, fulfilling responsibilities, and achieving objectives. Through these initiatives, Wenzhou aims to provide robust governance for the development of an international wetland city.

Ecological prosperity brings new opportunities

In recent years, Wenzhou has integrated the concept of“lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” into various aspects of urban development. By leveraging successful wetland park management and fostering an excellent ecological environment, it aims to create a harmonious living environment city-wide that fulfills people’s aspirations for a better quality of life.

Nanji Island, one of China’s first national marine nature reserves, has witnessed a steady rise in biodiversity and numerous new discoveries with the creation of an“international wetland city”. Taking advantage of the good ecological environment, fishermen have ventured into large yellow croaker fish farming, making an industry valued at over two hundred million yuan. This industry gained such recognition that the large yellow croaker was even featured on the menu during the G20 Hangzhou Summit. The influx of tourists has not only spurred the establishment of seaside homestays and fishermen’s house restaurants, but also led to the launch of the Ocean Pastoral Fishing and Travel Experience Park.“Only by protecting the environment can we achieve development” has become the consensus among every resident.

This is just one example of how Wenzhou has successfully transformed its abundant natural resources into a new engine for economic and ecological balance. In recent years, the WBNRP has collaborated closely with relevant departments to strategically plan healthcare and leisure industry, modern agriculture, coastal tourism, and nighttime economy. This effort has resulted in the development of various distinctive wetland economic features, including the“Wenzhou Fashion Bund” along the Ouyang River, the“Yunjiang Water Rhyme Leisure Belt” along the Feiyun River,“The Most Beautiful Peach Blossom Garden” on the Nanxi River, the“Ecological Living Room” on the Sanyang Wetland, and the“Sea Pearl” on the Nanji Island, among others, and has accelerated the cultivation of new ecological economic growth points. Additionally, the city has promoted the organic integration of key wetland protection and construction with the development of the Ouyang River Landscape Poetry Road Cultural Belt, creating eight types of cultural and tourism integration brands along the belt, such as the Ancient Villages along the Poetry Road, Famous Cultural Hills, and Marine Parks, etc.

Qu Zijie, Party Secretary and Director of the WBNRP, highlighted that the increasingly significant development benefits derived from the ecological resources have spurred the city to enhance wetland ecological protection and restoration as it progresses towards becoming an international wetland city. Emphasizing cultural aesthetics and values such as“Homeland of the Kingdom of Dong’ou”,“Dragon Boat Culture”, and“City and Wetland Symbiosis”, Wenzhou has established a wetland cultural think tank and integrated more cultural elements into Wenzhou’s wetland landscape. Through various educational and promotional activities on wetland protection, the city aims to foster widespread consensus for protecting the wetlands, thereby enriching its ecological foundation.(ZhongXin)