Today marks the 27th World Wetlands Day, under the theme \"It's time for wetland restoration.\" This theme emphasizes the urgent need to prioritize the restoration of lost or damaged wetlands and encourages everyone to take part in this vital effort.
According to the United Nations, wetlands are ecosystems where water is the dominant environmental driver, supporting a diverse range of plant and animal life. These ecosystems encompass both freshwater and marine environments, including lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers.
Research published in the journal Science reveals that although wetlands cover only 1% of the Earth's surface, they store an impressive 20% of the planet's organic ecosystem carbon. Wetlands' exceptional carbon sequestration rates significantly surpass those of marine and forest ecosystems, making them critical allies in the fight against climate change.
Shi Jianbin, an associate professor at Beijing Normal University, highlighted China's significant progress in wetland restoration. Over the past 20 years, China's mangrove area has expanded from 22,000 hectares to 27,100 hectares, positioning the country as one of the few globally to achieve such growth. During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), China successfully repaired 1,500 kilometers of coastline and restored 30,000 hectares of coastal wetlands.
In the last decade, the Chinese government has rolled out comprehensive plans focused on wetland protection and restoration. Key initiatives include the Programme for a Wetland Protection and Restoration System, the Master Plan on Major Projects for the Conservation and Restoration of National Key Ecosystems (2021-2035), and the National Wetland Protection Plan (2022-2030). These plans outline specific strategies and requirements for restoring degraded wetlands.
The National Wetland Protection Plan, released in December 2022, specifically advocates for near-natural methods to comprehensively improve and systematically restore wetlands in areas where their ecological functions are severely degraded, such as the lower reaches of the Yellow River and coastal regions of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea.
Additionally, tailored action plans like the Special Action Plan for Mangrove Protection and Restoration (2020-2025) and the Special Action Plan for Spartina Alterniflora Control (2022-2025) have been implemented. The mangrove plan aims to afforest 9,050 hectares of new mangroves and restore 9,750 hectares of degraded mangroves by 2025. Meanwhile, the Spartina alterniflora plan seeks a 90% removal rate of this invasive species nationwide by 2025 to prevent its spread.
Wetland biodiversity plays a crucial role in human health, food security, tourism, and job creation. As we celebrate World Wetlands Day, it's essential for all of us to work together to protect and restore these invaluable ecosystems.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
