On the afternoon of July 17, the staff of Nanhui New Town called the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) to have a preliminary communication on the large-scale planting of trees in Nanhui Dongtan this spring. Expresses great importance to the suggestions and letters of the CBCGDF. At present, the protection of Nanhui Dongtan Wetland is being scientifically demonstrated, and professional research and evaluation are being carried out, so as to effectively solve the relations between urban development and ecological protection and actively promote related work.
It originated in March this year. According to CBCGDF’s volunteers, large-scale tree planting activities are being carried out in Nanhui Dongtan of Shanghai, which was originally an important habitat for a large number of migratory birds to overwinter. As early as 2008, Nanhui Dongtan Wetland has been recognized as an important international bird area by the Birdlife International. In 2015, it was monitored that the number of birds going to Nanhui Dongtan for wintering reached nearly 400,000, compared with 418,000 in 2016, of which more than 400 species were found, accounting for more than 85% of the bird species found in Shanghai.
As such important wetland resources are being destroyed, the CBCGDF publicly appeals to Shanghai to stop planting trees on a wetland on a large scale and return farmland to wetland, leaving a rare wetland resource for Nanhui Dongtan. Wetland is a relatively important ecosystem. In May this year, the CBCGDF also sent a letter to the relevant departments in Shanghai.
In the communication, relevant departments said that Nanhui Dongtan is located in the southeast corner of Pudong New Area, Shanghai. After many times of reclamation in the history of the region, Nanhui Dongtan is an artificial land formed by reclaiming land from the sea and blowing sand. Because of the enclosure, low-lying terrain, and the eastern region has not been included in the current development and construction schedule, it shows a wetland landscape. At the same time, the coastal beaches around Lingang New Town are still expanding due to the sediment deposition and tidal current in the upper reaches of the Yangtze Estuary.
Relevant departments indicated that it is an objective need to organize afforestation in accordance with the "Special Planning for Forest Land Construction in Pudong New Area", to improve the level of forest coverage in Shanghai, and to plan and step by step to increase plantation. Current afforestation work is also in strict accordance with relevant documents such as the implementation and management methods of municipal and district public welfare forest construction projects. Requirements for implementation; in tree species selection, through experts' evaluation, in accordance with the principle of "adapting measures suitable to local conditions", selected salt-alkali and water-tolerant tree species, such as Chinese fir. At the same time, in the process of afforestation, the place selection avoids the wetland as far as possible to ensure the minimum impact on birds. In addition, with regard to the use of chemicals, Nanhui New Town shall carry out construction management in accordance with the requirements of relevant documents of municipal and district public welfare forest construction projects, prohibit the use of herbicides, and the forestry departments shall further strengthen inspection and assessment to prevent and eliminate such phenomena, while welcoming the supervision and reporting by social environmental protection volunteer. To jointly safeguard the ecological environment.
In order to effectively solve the relations between urban development and ecological protection and realize the harmonious coexistence of ecological functions and urban development under the strategy of ecological civilization, under the guidance of the competent departments of municipal and district industries, the Lingang management Committee has carried out relevant studies and is conducting the assessment of the status of birds and habitats in the wetland, and the dynamic protection of wetlands and birds.
The purpose of this research is to study the current situation and spatial distribution characteristics of bird resources, the present situation and historical changes of bird habitat resources in Nanhui Dongtan by observing the annual data and analyzing the data for many years, so as to differentiate and analyze the urban development planning and bird habitat of Nanhui Dongtan. The strategies and schemes of urban planning adjustment and habitat restoration based on bird habitat protection are put forward.
Relevant departments in Shanghai welcomed the CBCGDF and volunteers to actively participate in the construction of ecological civilization in Nanhui New Town, where Nanhui Dongtan is located, and to promote the local environmental protection and development.
(Photo credit: CBCGDF volunteers)
Original Chinese article:
http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/9312.html
By / Li Xue