On May 12, focusing on how to protect birds and their habitats together, the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Hebei Province held a provincial bird protection volunteer convention in Shijiazhuang. The China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) Research Department was invited to attend this convention.

Hebei Province is located in the North China Plain, bordering the Bohai Sea in the east, surrounding Beijing and Tianjin, Taihang Mountain in the west, and Yanshan in the north. To the north of Yanshan is the Zhangbei Plateau. It is the only province in China that has plateaus, mountains, hills, plains, lakes, and waterfronts. Such a diverse geographical environment has bred the rich animal and plant resources and ecological environment of Hebei Province.

According to the existing survey data, there are more than 530 species of terrestrial vertebrates (including amphibians) known in Hebei Province, accounting for about 29.0% of similar animal species in the country. Among them, there are more than 420 species of birds, accounting for about 36.1% of the country. In the bird resources, except the resident birds which are widely distributed in the geographical units such as plateau, mountain and hill, it is located near the Bohai Bay, which is a key stop on the East Asia-Australasia Flyway, one of the nine international flight routes for migratory birds. Thousands of migratory birds come to inhabit it every year, which is especially important in the ecological protection of the province.

In view of this, around the protection of birds and their habitats this spring, the Hebei Forestry and Grassland Bureau specially held this provincial bird protection volunteers convention. In addition to the Department of Wildlife Protection and Wetlands of the Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau, the Provincial Forest Public Security Bureau and other direct departments, the forest and grass bureaus in charge of bird and habitat protection in 11 cities under the jurisdiction of Hebei Province, and the Natural Resources and Planning Bureau, as well as the relevant persons in charge of the Natural Resources and Planning Bureaus in Dingzhou City and Xinji City attended the meeting. At the same time, the social organizations that came to attend the convention were the leaders of six front-line environmental protection organizations from CBCGDF, Tangshan Wildlife Conservation Association, North China Environmental Frontier, Green Planet Wildlife Protection Volunteer Team, Yidan Wildlife Protection Special Team, etc. .

The representative of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) Research Department said at the convention that since 2016, the CBCGDF Research Department has established more than 150 Community Conservation Area (CCAfa) sites in more than 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China, for some important species and habitats protection, besides the many national protected areas in China, with the help of civil forces, to protect important species and habitats on the ground. Among them, there are many CCAfa sites in Hebei Province, such as CCA for Oriental white stork, CCA for great bustard, and CCA for waterfowl in Baiyangdian. Through the work on CCAfa system, CBCGDF plays an important role in the ecological monitoring of important species (including birds) and habitats in the country, the rescue of wild animals and plants, and the daily practical protection actions.

In view of the current problems of illegal bird trading market, netting bird catching, poisoning and killing migratory birds in Hebei, and the upgrade of management and protection faced by most protected areas, the CBCGDF Research Department hopes that government departments at all levels can attach great importance to the power of social organizations. It is necessary to explore the establishment of a closer interaction and long-term collaborative linkage mechanism between government departments and environmental protection organizations to jointly protect birds and habitats. And also absorb and support social organizations to participate in the monitoring of biodiversity related to bird conservation and the independent evaluation of third parties.

The person in charge of the North China Environmental Frontline said that at present, the environmental protection organization has a total of more than 1,400 people in Hebei Province. It has carried out wild patrol work for many years. After saving many wild birds, the environmental protection organization particularly hopes that government departments can really support the rescue of the first-line wild animals and let the first-line environmental protection organizations become a platform for the government's rescue of wild birds.

The Tianjin Bird Protection Volunteer Alliance has proposed whether a new protected area can be established in the concentrated wintering area of the great bustard in Cang County, Cangzhou, to strengthen the protection of the great bustard, because the number of great bustards winter there throughout the year can be monitored is around 80.

The Green Planet Wildlife Conservation Volunteer Team hoped that government departments can implement rewards for frontline volunteers and encourage more people to participate in the conservation of wild animals including birds and habitats.

The relevant person in charge of the Hebei Forestry and Grassland Bureau and the persons in charge of each department carefully listened to the suggestions or opinions put forward by various environmental protection organizations, and expressed that the provincial forestry department first thanked the environmental protection frontline volunteers’ contribution for their protection of wild birds and their habitats. In addition, they are also willing to fully support the environmental protection actions of front-line volunteers, and when it comes to specific locations and places, the existing problems of wetland ecological environment protection, bird protection, etc. will be further strengthened in daily work of communication and collaboration with environmental organizations. Everyone will actively discuss countermeasures, promote the improvement and optimization of existing protection measures, and work together with environmental protection organizations to form synergy in practical actions to efficiently and comprehensively protect the ecological environment of birds and habitats in Hebei.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/12442.html

By / Wang Yanqing Modified / Maggie