Avian guardian: Protection of wintering grounds for migratory birds underway in China

The autumn migration of birds in China has approximately concluded and the monitoring of wintering habitats is underway, according to the China National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Authorities in different areas in China have intensified daily monitoring and patrols of migratory bird gathering areas and farmland habitats to prevent any human-made disturbances or harm to migratory birds.

Wintering sites of migratory birds include wetlands around the Bohai Sea and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

To ensure birds safely winter, significant measures such as habitat restoration, rejuvenation of plants consumed by birds, rigorous patrols, and monitoring of crucial wintering grounds have been planned and initiated. Considering the physical toll that migration has on birds and their immunity, authorities have also intensified monitoring to avoid possible disease outbreaks.

Wetlands serve as crucial resting and wintering spots for the majority of migratory birds.

In Jiangsu Province's Suqian, with vast wetland areas, over 230 species of birds, including the Eurasian spoonbill, oriental white stork, and reed parrotbill, totaling nearly 500,000, have chosen this area for wintering. The local authorities have integrated wetland preservation with the construction of sponge cities, considering factors such as flood control, and have launched projects like the Yuedi Lake Wetland Park to enhance regional rainwater retention capacity, further safeguarding wetland resources.

The Linyi Huanghe Gudao Wetland Park in Linyi County of east China's Shandong Province is hosting over 30 bird species. Collaborative efforts from local departments in water resources, forestry, and power supply have come together to work on purifying water quality, planting vegetation, and upgrading green energy systems. These actions aim to enhance water quality and provide a favorable environment for birds to briefly rest or winter during their migration.

The Qilihai Wetland in Ninghe District of north China's Tianjin Municipality is also a vital checkpoint for bird migration. New initiatives like wetland biodiversity protection insurance, wetland carbon sink index insurance, and wetland ecological comprehensive index insurance have been introduced here to further protect the wetlands.

Liu Huan, deputy head of the Leading Group for the Qilihai Wetland Protection and Restoration in Tianjin's Ninghe District, said that if damage to wetland vegetation caused by natural disasters or unexpected accidents disrupts the normal survival and reproduction of birds and other organisms, compensations provided through wetland insurance will strengthen wetland protection, offering better conditions for bird migration.