When summer comes, the Fujin National Wetland Park in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province becomes a paradise for wild birds. However, it was a completely different scene years ago.

The wetland park used to be a huge tract of low-lying farmland. The original ecological system of the wetland has been restored since policies were implemented to turn marginal farmland into forests, grassland and wetlands across the province.

Heilongjiang boasts bountiful wetland resources of 55,600 square kilometers, covering one-eighth of the country's total wetland area.

The Zhalong National Nature Reserve, some 700 kilometers away from the Fujin wetland, has also seen an increasing number of rare birds in recent years.

Located in western Heilongjiang, the Zhalong nature reserve covers an area of 210,000 hectares. It is the main breeding ground for red-crowned cranes and white-naped cranes in China, as well as a stopover for many other migratory birds.

"Illegal fishing and bird hunting have disappeared. Villagers' environmental awareness has been improved," said Lv Gang, a resident of Dangnai Village, located on the edge of the reserve.

The 64-year-old said villagers would help or report bird injuries to relevant departments. In the past, some villagers used to make their living by fishing and bird hunting.

Thanks to the wetland protection efforts, the ecosystem has been significantly improved, said Lyu, who has seen flocks of rare birds flying to the wetland every summer.

The province has unveiled wetland protection regulations in 2003, one of the earliest provinces in China to carry out local legislation to protect wetlands.

In 2018, Heilongjiang stepped up efforts to manage illegal agricultural development and tourist facilities around wetlands in the province.

Heilongjiang has also been upgrading its geographical information system and monitoring platform of nature reserves, according to the provincial forestry and grassland department.

Meanwhile, tough measures to crack down on illegal hunting of wildlife and more campaigns of wildlife protection have been carried out in the province over the past few years.

"Pragmatic measures have brought significant changes to wetland ecology, with water quality improving, wetland areas expanding, and an influx of migratory birds," said Xu Aiguo, an official of the local environment department.

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(Cover image is the Dongfanghong Wetland Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang Province, China. /VCG Photo)

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