[Explanation] Gansu Jiayuguan Caohu National Wetland Park recently disclosed that up to now, the wetland area of the park has expanded from 711.5 hectares in 2013 to 796.88 hectares, with a water area of 125 hectares, which has become an important part of the green ecological barrier of the Hexi Corridor.
Jiayuguan City has a temperate continental desert climate with aridity and little rain, a weak ecological environment, and a region with serious land desertification. "Green" has become the goal of this northwest Gobi city. In December 2018, the naming of Caohu National Wetland Park was approved, filling the city's lack of a national wetland park.
Feng Xuegang, Chief of the Comprehensive Section of the Caohu National Wetland Protection Office, was interviewed by a reporter from China News Agency and introduced that the wetland is located at the forefront of the Badain Jaran Desert and the Mengxin Gobi. It is an oasis ecosystem formed by marsh wetlands, natural meadows and desert vegetation. It plays the ecological functions of preventing wind and sand, water storage and irrigation, and climate improvement.
[Concurrent] Feng Xuegang, Chief of Comprehensive Section, Caohu National Wetland Protection Office, Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province
(In) the arid area of the northwest is also a special wetland. You can see our Qilian Mountains in the south and the Gobi Desert in the north. It is a variety of landforms, deserts, Gobi, snow-capped mountains, green spaces, lakes, etc. The topography and landforms are integrated, so this grassy lake is very important for our local climate transformation.
[Explanation] Feng Xuegang said that whether the environment is good or not, the birds have the final say. As the wetland ecological environment continues to improve, Jiayuguan has gradually become an important transit point for migratory birds to stay and inhabit. The stay time of some birds has been extended to more than 4 from the previous 2 months. month.
[Concurrent] Feng Xuegang, Chief of Comprehensive Section, Caohu National Wetland Protection Office, Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province
There are 142 types of migratory birds that we are monitoring. Since the establishment of the park in the past few years, we have been protecting migratory birds, including daily patrol and monitoring of migratory birds in terms of our system and personnel. According to the characteristics of the stay of the migratory birds in winter, we feed the migratory birds, and also take measures such as breaking ice and running water to ensure a good habitat for the migratory birds.
[Explanation] Zhu Jiyong, who has been engaged in wildlife protection for many years, is a member of the Jiayuguan Wildlife Conservation Association. He said that it has become an "international post" for the migration of birds in Central Asia and East Asia/Australia, attracting many wild animals. Animals come here to inhabit and multiply and return to their homes.
[Concurrent] Zhu Jiyong, member of Jiayuguan Wildlife Conservation Association, Gansu Province
There are eight migration routes for migratory birds in the world, two of which pass through Jiayuguan City, one is from Central Asia to India, the other is from Russia to Australia, and both of them pass through Jiayuguan.
[Explanation] In recent years, the number of wild animals in the wetland park has continued to increase. At present, there are 66 species of wild plants in 25 families, 48 genera, 27 orders, 142 species of 49 families, 2 species of national first-class protected animals, black stork and relict gull; national second-class protected animals whooper swan, egret, grey goose, peregrine falcon, etc. 15 species, forming a relatively complete comprehensive system of biodiversity.
Reporter Li Yalong Ding Si reports from Jiayuguan, Gansu
Editor in charge: [Li Ji]