China’s Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf (Phase I) were inscribed on the World Heritage List as a natural site on Friday at the 43rd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Azerbaijan’s capital.
The decision to inscribe the Chinese natural site on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage List was unanimously supported by all members of the World Heritage Committee. "This inscription demonstrates the firm commitment of China to conservation of the world heritage. It will set an example for subsequent sites for the nomination of East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China are located in the Yellow Sea ecoregion, containing the world's largest continuous mudflat seashore. It is the central node of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), which is the most threatened migratory flyway worldwide and boasts the largest number of endangered and critically endangered species such as Spoon-billed Sandpipers. The area has a high biodiversity, with about 280 species of fishes and more than 500 species of invertebrates, providing a variety of food resources for millions of migratory birds.
As early as April 2017, under the guidance and advancement of Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), CBCGDF established "China Conservation Area for Wetland at Dongtai Tiaozini" (CCAfa), focusing on the protection of the Tiaozini Wetland in Jiangsu Province.
In early summer of 2018, after receiving the application of the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai, Gulf of China to the World Natural Heritage Nomination List of IUCN, Dr. Zhou read the application straightaway and found the Tiaozini Wetland was not included in the range of the application and immediately decided to focus on the review. Upon completion of the reviewing report's response to IUCN, Dr. Zhou made it clear that the Tiaozini Wetland must be included in the application for the World Natural Heritage Nom List.
To advance this matter in a timely and effective manner, Dr. Zhou once again sent a letter to IUCN, requesting to participate in further relevant meetings and discussions, and suggested that the IUCN expert group should focus on the Tiaozini Wetland inspection when visiting China. On this basis, CBCGDF organized NGOs, experts and other people concerned with wetland protection, to discuss and further clarify the relevant viewpoints and issues, and asked Tiaozini Wetland to be included in the first phase of the World Natural Heritage Nom List content.
At the United Nations’ important Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Zhou Jinfeng reiterated his point of view to the Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, the CEO of the East Asian-Autralasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), and the Chinese delegation, and stated clearly on the CBCGDF platforms, never give up without adding Tiaozini Wetland to the first phase of the nomination.
Now, after years of unremitting efforts by organizations including CBCGDF, we finally see that the Tiaozini Wetland has been successfully included to the China’s Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf (Phase I) that were eventually inscribed on the World Heritage List as a natural site! CBCGDF's efforts have yielded good results, and the habitat of more than 200 species of migratory water birds, including the world's critically endangered migratory bird spoon-billed sandpiper, is expected to be further protected!
(Photo credit: WWW.NEWS.CN)
(Photo credit: CBCGDF volunteer Tian Yang)
In 2016, Mr. Xie Boyang, the head of CBCGDF, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference proposed to strengthen the protection of wetlands in the intertidal zone. Mr. Xie Boyang's "Proposal on Strengthening the Protection of Intertidal Wetland in the Intertidal Zone" became an excellent proposal of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. (Photo credit: CBCGDF)
In the second half of 2018, CBCGDF sent a letter to the Minister of Natural Resources, suggesting that the Tiaozini Wetland be included in the Special Marine Reserve. (Photo credit: CBCGDF volunteer Tian Yang)
Dr. Zhou reiterated his point of view to the Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention Ms. Martha Rojas-Urrego (Photo credit: CBCGDF)
(Photo credit: Li Dongming, please indicate the source.)
Original Chinese article:
http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/9155.html
By / Niu Jingmei