Cherish wetlands, build consensus, promote cooperation and embrace the future——Written on the occasion of the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands

　　Xinhua News Agency, Wuhan, November 6th.

　　Xinhua News Agency reporter

　　Walking on the East Lake, the water is shining, the vegetation is gorgeous, and the birds are flying together.

From November 5th to 13th, the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands was held in Wuhan, the main venue of the "International Wetland City".

This is the first time that my country has hosted the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands.

　　"Cherish wetlands, harmonious coexistence between man and nature" is the theme of this conference, and it also embodies people's beautiful vision for the future.

As an important international conference in the field of ecology, this conference will build consensus and strength for global wetland protection, and draw a new blueprint.

Beautiful as picturesque, splendid as screen, conserving the beauty of nature

　　The deer sings and the herons fly.

　　Wetlands, known as the "kidney of the earth", are important ecosystems with various ecological functions such as water conservation, water purification, climate regulation, and biodiversity maintenance. It is closely related to people's production and life.

A group of elk is active in the Shishou Elk National Nature Reserve in Hubei (taken on May 17, 2021, drone photo).

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu

　　"Through the ages, human beings have lived by water, civilization has been born with water, and human production and life are closely related to wetlands." "We must unswervingly put protection first, and do our best to maintain wetland ecology and water environment."… …General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the protection and restoration of wetlands, and has repeatedly emphasized the importance of wetlands.

　　Vast wetlands, colorful and diverse——

　　"Guan Guanjuju, in the river continent", "the so-called Yiren, in the water side", these classic verses from the "Book of Songs" thousands of years ago, full of wetlands, ancient rivers, beautiful lakes, mysterious swamps , romantic seaside.

　　Looking at China's "landscape map", the vast territory, diverse climate, and complex natural conditions have given birth to 56.35 million hectares of wetlands and diverse wetland types.

　　From the Yellow River Delta on the coast of the Bohai Sea to the Qinghai Lake among the plateaus and mountains, from Zhalong, Heilongjiang, where the lakes, marshes and reeds are spread in the north temperate zone, to the Dongzhai Port, Hainan, where the tropical mangroves are dense... Relying on the rich wetland resources, China has established more than 1,600 Wetland Park.

Among the 43 "International Wetland Cities" certified by the Convention on Wetlands, 13 cities in China were selected, which is the country with the largest number of "International Wetland Cities" in the world.

Elk in the Shishou Elk National Nature Reserve in Hubei (photo taken on May 17, 2021).

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu

　　Green wetlands, all things are fragrant——

　　In the 30 years since joining the Convention on Wetlands, especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, my country has adhered to the concept of ecological civilization and green development, and has included important wetlands into the red line of ecological protection. , continue to promote wetland protection and restoration, enhance wetland ecological functions, and maintain wetland biodiversity.

　　In the past 10 years, my country has implemented more than 3,400 wetland protection and restoration projects, adding and restoring more than 800,000 hectares of wetlands.

Since 2017, Hunan has launched a pilot program of returning farmland to forests and wetlands in 8 cities in the Xiangjiang River Basin.

　　Vibrant wetlands, pulsating vitality——

　　Strong protection has made China's wetlands more dynamic and increasingly rich in biodiversity.

Yangtze finless porpoises play in the water by the river in Yichang City, Hubei Province (photo taken on May 10, 2021).

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu

　　Along the Yangtze River, the "Smiling Angel" Yangtze finless porpoise frequently appears; on the coast of the Bohai Sea, the number of black-billed gulls that can be observed in the Panjin Wetland in Liaoning has increased from more than a thousand in the 1990s to the current tens of thousands; by the Dianchi Lake, a plateau lake, The red-billed gull has been flying to Kunming for winter from remote Siberia and other places for more than 30 consecutive years.

A group of little swans and bean geese fly in the experimental area of ​​a wetland habitat restoration project in Dongting Lake (photo taken on February 26, 2018).

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ga

　　In the first national wetland park in China, Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park, nearly 700 species of animals and plants have been added in the past 10 years, making it a paradise for birds, fish, insects and plants.

Xixi National Wetland Park (drone photo) taken on August 22, 2020.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi

　　Similar stories are happening in wetlands all over China, and ecological pictures are slowly unfolding.

Cherish wetlands, protect the future, moisten the beauty of harmony

　　In the Zhalong Wetland in Heilongjiang, the wild population of red-crowned cranes here has grown continuously over the years by adopting a long-term water replenishment mechanism and ecological resettlement relocation.

From "man-bird competition" to "man-bird blind date", it reflects people's beautiful expectations for the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.

Red-crowned cranes fly freely in Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang (photo taken on June 15).

Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Song Yanjun)

　　The prosperity of ecology leads to the prosperity of civilization, and the decline of ecology leads to the decline of civilization.

The construction of ecological civilization is the fundamental plan related to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.

General Secretary Xi Jinping said: "China will build a modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and promote the high-quality development of wetland conservation."

　　The top-level design of wetland protection continues to improve——

　　From the perspective of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, wetland protection has been included in the "Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of Ecological Civilization" and the "Overall Plan for the Reform of Ecological Civilization System".

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, along with the promulgation of the "Wetland Protection and Restoration System Plan" and other documents, a total of 97 wetland-related systems have been established at the national and provincial levels, and a wetland protection policy system has been initially formed.

　　On June 1 this year, China's first law dedicated to the protection of wetlands, the "Wetland Protection Law of the People's Republic of China", came into effect. 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) across the country have successively issued regulations and measures for wetland protection, jointly building a top-level wetland protection management "Four beams and eight columns" designed.

　　The protection management system is more perfect——

　　A hierarchical and classified management system has been established. China has 64 wetlands of international importance, 29 wetlands of national importance, 1021 wetlands of provincial importance, and 901 national wetland parks.

　　This is the foundation of China's wetlands, and it is also the result of China's continuous promotion of ecological protection.

As the first country in the world to complete three national wetland surveys, China has established wetland survey and monitoring field stations, real-time monitoring and information management platforms, and will gradually be incorporated into the national forest-grass ecological perception system to realize the integration of monitoring and supervision, and the support of wetland science and technology. capacity continues to grow.

　　Green development shared by all -

On November 5, citizens played in the East Lake Scenic Area in Wuhan.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Ruibo

　　East Lake, pinnacles and gold.

There is an endless stream of tourists who come to enjoy the ride, ride along the greenway, watch the fish and gulls play, and enjoy the lake and landscape.

"When the pollution was severe in the past, the water was smelly, but now the environment is good and the scenery is beautiful," said Qian Yun, a villager who has lived in Huguang Village, Donghu Scenic Area, Hongshan District, Wuhan for more than 40 years.

Birds gather over the Shenhu Wetland in Wuhan (photographed on October 20).

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Zhizun

　　With a water area of ​​33 square kilometers and a 102-kilometer East Lake Greenway... With the improvement of ecology, East Lake has become the "green heart of the city", integrating wetlands into urban life. Last year, it received 21.5 million tourists.

A scene of East Lake in Wuhan (photographed on October 19).

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cheng Min

　　The protection of wetlands has become a social consensus in China, and more wetlands have become green spaces shared by the masses. About 90% of the national wetland parks are open to the public for free.

Chinese Wisdom, World Contribution, and the Beauty of Harmony and Coexistence

　　"We must deepen understanding, strengthen cooperation, and jointly promote global action on wetland protection." On November 5, President Xi Jinping pointed out in a video speech at the opening ceremony of the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands, "We must unite Cherish the Global Consensus on Wetlands", "We will promote the global process of wetland protection", "We will enhance the global well-being of wetlands for the benefit of the people".

　　Building the foundation of ecological civilization together is a solemn commitment China has made to the world.

　　Over the past 30 years, China has been striving to implement the concepts of sustainable development and ecological civilization, and has continuously strengthened legislative protection, scientific research monitoring, popular science publicity, and international cooperation. With 4% of the world's wetlands, it has satisfied the needs of one-fifth of the world's population for wetland production. , life, ecology, culture and other needs, which strongly supports ecological protection and sustainable economic and social development.

　　Not long ago, China formulated the Plan for the Spatial Layout of National Parks.

China will set up a batch of national parks one after another, accounting for about 10% of the land area, and about 11 million hectares of wetlands will be included in the national park system.

　　Talking about wetland protection in China, Musunda Momba, secretary-general of the Convention on Wetlands, said that with the promotion of relevant legislation, more than half of China's wetlands have been protected in some form, such as national parks and community parks.

When other parties see China's leading role, they will understand why wetland protection is so important, because wetland protection is also conducive to combating climate change and protecting biodiversity.

　　Building a beautiful home together is the responsibility of a major country that China has shown to the world.

　　In the national nature reserve with mangroves as the main protection object - Hainan Dongzhaigang Nature Reserve, the yellow-billed egret stretches gracefully and gently perches on the lush tree canopy... The surrounding residents say that they can renew their life. Seeing this rare bird benefits from the revival of the local mangroves.

An egret rests in the Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve in Hainan (photo taken on January 28).

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Guanyu

　　Mangroves are known as "guardians of the coast", but under the influence of human activities, the area of ​​mangroves in the world is decreasing at an average annual rate of 1%.

Through continuous strengthening of protection and restoration, China's existing mangrove area is 27,100 hectares, which is one of the few countries in the world with a net increase in mangrove area.

　　As one of the agendas of this conference, the conference will actively seek support from all parties at home and abroad to promote the establishment of an international mangrove center in China as an important base and scientific research platform for international cooperation in global mangrove protection.

　　"China's achievements in wetland protection are obvious to all, and it is contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to global ecological governance," said Yuan Xingzhong, a member of the National Wetland Science and Technology Committee and a professor at Chongqing University.

　　In 2018, the "Draft Resolution on the Protection and Management of Small and Micro Wetlands" drafted by China was successfully adopted at the 13th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands.

This is the first time that my country has submitted a draft resolution to the Convention on Wetlands and passed it successfully after joining the Convention on Wetlands.

The unique ecological functions of small and micro wetlands have received wider attention and recognition from the international community.

　　This is the achievement of wetland protection in China, and it is also a positive contribution to the protection and rational use of global wetlands:

　　——Share experience, undertake foreign aid training for wetland protection in developing countries, and share advanced technologies and successful models of wetland protection and restoration in China with more than 150 wetland managers in more than 20 countries.

　　——To seek cooperation, cooperate with the national "Belt and Road" initiative, successfully implement the "Lancang-Mekong Special Fund" wetland project of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and extensively carry out bilateral and multilateral wetland cooperation and exchanges.

　　——To promote harmony together, launch the UNDP-Global Environment Facility "East Asia-Australasian Flyway China Migratory Bird Protection Network Construction" project to strengthen the management of about 300,000 hectares of internationally important wetlands.

　　Build consensus and gather strength.

This conference will take the opportunity to formulate the fifth strategic plan of the Convention to promote the review and approval of the "Post-2025 Global Wetland Conservation and Development Strategic Framework" and promote global action on wetland conservation.

(Reporters Tang Weibin, Li Pengxiang, Liao Jun, Hou Wenkun, Xiong Qi)

　　Video reporter: Xiong Qi

　　Poster Design: Excellence