For Wang Xia, some of her earliest memories are connected with the red-flowered black mangrove – a rare and fragile tree her father has spent his life cultivating. Notably, even after his retirement, her dad continues this work.

"The latest is the fourth generation, which shows major improvements in disease resistance compared with earlier versions," said Wang, 30, who now also works at the Dongzhai Port National Nature Reserve Authority in south China's Hainan Province.

Nicknamed the "giant panda" of the mangrove forest, the red-flowered black mangrove is a first-class national protected plant.

It is vital for ecological restoration in coastal areas but extremely selective about its growing environment. A lack of protection led the wild population of this tree to the brink of extinction in China about 10 years ago.

Thanks to the efforts of researchers across the whole island, like Wang's father, Wang Shijun, more than 16,000 of these trees were cultivated in Hainan in recent years. Over 4,000 have been successfully transplanted into natural habitats, according to the latest statistics.

At Dongzhai Port Reserve, one of the first sites in China to cultivate the species, 720 second-generation saplings have been transplanted into the wild. While nearly 2,000 third-generation saplings are undergoing acclimatization, more than 80 fourth-generation saplings are thriving, Wang said.

Beyond breeding this rare mangrove, staff at Dongzhai Port Reserve have adopted innovative, site-specific methods in their restoration work.

In areas heavily eroded by waves, where mangroves struggle to survive, workers use discarded oyster shells to build protective barriers against waves. After dredging and raising the land, they plant mangrove seedlings, an approach that has protected more than 15,000 meters of shoreline.

"This initiative is a first for the reserve and offers valuable experience for mangrove restoration nationwide," Wang said.

The reserve's mangrove area has steadily expanded. In its latest ecological restoration project initiated in early 2023, an additional 107 hectares have been added to date, local authorities said.

As mangrove areas can provide habitats for water birds and other creatures, wildlife is returning as well.

The number of recorded bird species has risen from 180 to 230, and the black-faced spoonbill, a first-class national protected bird, has reappeared after an eight-year absence, Wang noted.

Mangroves not only improve the coastal ecological environment and serve as habitats for rare species but also provide livelihoods for local people.

As ecological conditions improve, nearby villagers are embracing conservation and eco-tourism. Many now work at the reserve as boat drivers, ticket sellers and cleaners, increasing their monthly income. Others have launched agritourism businesses on their properties.

Mangrove restoration can also contribute to China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.

In May 2022, a mangrove area jointly restored by the Dongzhai Port Reserve generated Hainan's first blue carbon trade, amounting to over 3,000 tonnes of carbon credits worth more than 300,000 yuan (about $42,000). The proceeds were used to fund mangrove management and local community projects. The project is expected to generate more than 90,000 tonnes of carbon credits over the next 40 years.

For staff at the Dongzhai Port Reserve, daily patrols remain essential. Li Shichuan, who also conducts some research work, said they have cooperated with local research institutions to monitor seedling survival, track waterbird populations and record biodiversity during routine patrols.

The goal, Li said, is to eventually give each mangrove area a "digital record" that documents micro-topography, plant and animal activity, and other ecological indicators, which would guide long-term protection strategies.

Li, who has worked at the reserve since the 1990s, said he has also witnessed the change in the local people's attitudes. Years ago, a villager asked what to do about mangroves sprouting on his salt-affected farmland. According to Li, in the past the trees might have been cut. However, now villagers know that the plants are protected.

"This change is what I find most rewarding after all these years of work," he said.

(Cover: Red-flowered black mangroves at the Dongzhai Port National Nature Reserve in Haikou City, Hainan Province, China, May 21, 2024. /VCG)