Beidaihe is a world-class resort for watching and studying birds. According to relevant information, there are more than 1,300 species of birds in China, while there are 405 species in Beidaihe, of which 68 species are under key national protection. A large number of migratory birds pass through this place every year, including many world-famous rare birds. During the Spring and Autumn period, birds such as red-crowned cranes, Oriental white storks, grey cranes and some other birds sing and fly in groups. At the turn of spring and summer, flocks of birds can be seen foraging and playing along the tidal flats and beach in Geziwo.

In February this year, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) and the Beidaihe District Yizhan Bird Rescue Center, which is the Beidaihe District Youth Bird Science Popularization Education Practice Base, jointly established the Community Conservation Area for birds at Beidaihe (CCAfa), hoping to work together to contribute to the bird protection science and science education.

On June 9th, Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of CBCGDF led a team to visit the CCAfa site and presented various scientific popularization materials on biodiversity conservation to provide assistance for the daily scientific popularization work there. Subsequently, accompanied by Director Li Jun, they inspected the classrooms, office areas, wildlife protection specimen exhibition room, library, outdoor development training ground, outdoor sketching area, forest city theme exhibition hall and bird’s art gallery and other places of the CCAfa site.

According to Director Li, since the establishment of the CCAfa base, it has received about 90,000 students outside the district; it has received 19,000 students in the district. The base has organized, undertaken, and participated in five large-scale bird rescue and release activities at the city level, as well as the community-wide launching ceremony of the National People's Week, the creation of national forest cities, and other theme activities. The number of participating students reached 2 million. Has been reported by many domestic large media.

Immediately afterwards, the group of people arrived at Geziwo Wetland, an important bird habitat in Beidaihe, and exchanged and analyzed the related remediation projects and problems.

According to Director Li, the changes in the ecological environment of the Geziwo (pigeon nest) wetland in Beidaihe are multifaceted. The improvement of the environment is reflected in the increase in the number of migratory birds. But benthic organisms, such as seashells, clams and worms, that were once easy to find on beaches, are now in great decline.

During the inspection, the CBCGDF team also encountered a local old man. The old man mentioned: "When the Geziwo wetland is being constructed, some places have not considered the actual situation. For example, the wooden walkway built with money has little effect in practical use except for its good looks. When the typhoon came, many coastal wooden bridges were destroyed, so they spent a lot of money to repair it. " At the same time, the old man also sigh with emotion: “the sea is poor, much less seafood, such as belt fish, yellow croaker, in the past people fishing too much, throw the nets, small fishing boats wave after wave, the relevant departments cannot come over.”

Aiming at how the Geziwo wetland can be restored more realistically and ecologically, while taking into account protection and development, on the afternoon of June 9, Dr. Zhou and his team also conducted further communication and exchanges with Qinhuangdao Ocean and Fishery Bureau, several experts in the wetland field of Hebei Province, Qinhuangdao Bird Watching Association and other relevant leaders and experts.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

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Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/12744.html

By / Maggie, Mingmei (Intern)