China News Service, Nanchang, December 12 (Reporter Li Yunhan) The Third International White Crane Forum was held in Nanchang, Jiangxi on the afternoon of the 12th. Chinese and foreign experts and scholars focused on how to strengthen the protection and management of the white crane habitat, promote the research of rare migratory birds and the protection of biodiversity. Carry out seminars and exchanges.
On the afternoon of December 12, the 3rd International White Crane Forum was held in Nanchang, Jiangxi.
Photo by Li Yunhan
White cranes are known as "living fossils" of birds. There are only more than 4,000 in the world, and they are listed as critically endangered species by the World Conservation Union.
"Wetlands are the kidneys of the earth, and biodiversity is the immune system of the earth." Shi Ke, chairman of the Jiangxi Science and Technology Association, said that the period from 2021 to 2030 is a critical period for the global ecological protection and climate governance process. Responding to climate change and protecting biodiversity under the goal is the direction and focus of global cooperation in the next 10 years.
Wen Kangnong, the representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in China, said that Poyang Lake in Jiangxi is the largest wintering place for migratory birds in Asia. More than 98% of the white cranes listed as critically endangered species live in Poyang Lake, the largest wintering place for migratory birds in Asia.
Through comprehensive management, Poyang Lake wetland and biodiversity have been effectively protected, and 600,000 to 700,000 migratory birds spend the winter in Poyang Lake every year.
"Long-term observations have found that the flood level has exceeded the flood control warning level for more than half a month, and there is basically no submerged vegetation in the main lake area." Hu Zhenpeng, deputy director of the Academic Committee of the Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, suggested that effective integration measures should be taken. Natural restoration is the main task, supplemented by artificial replanting, repairing submerged vegetation, and adopting comprehensive measures to improve the carrying capacity of migratory bird habitats.
According to Guo Yumin, a professor at Beijing Forestry University, there used to be three populations of white cranes, namely the western, central and eastern populations.
He pointed out that Siberian cranes are currently threatened by habitat reduction, lack of food, man-made hunting, and harassment by natural enemies. The protection and restoration of Siberian crane habitats should be strengthened, and strict law enforcement should be strengthened to reduce the occurrence of human hunting.
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