Chongming Dongtan International Important Wetland

Author: Ma Yun'an
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features:
The unique natural environment of Chongming Dongtan Wetland provides excellent conditions for the habitation of various species. Chongming Dongtan is located in the middle of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, serving as an important stopover site for migratory birds. During the migration season, hundreds of thousands of sandpipers rest here, making it of significant international importance for bird conservation. Additionally, tens of thousands of geese and ducks winter here. Chongming Dongtan is also a critical habitat for rare and endangered bird species. In recent years, three species of nationally first-class protected wild birds and 35 species of nationally second-class protected wild birds have been recorded here, with 20 bird species listed in China's Red Data Book of Endangered Animals.
Chongming Dongtan and the surrounding waters are also spawning grounds and migration routes for aquatic organisms. The Chinese mitten crab (commonly known as "dazhae") spawns in this area, while the young of the Japanese eel pass through these waters to enter the Yangtze River and begin their upstream migration. Yangtze sturgeon fry that hatch in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River enter the nearby waters each summer for fattening. Therefore, this region plays an indispensable role in completing the life cycle of aquatic organisms. The vast tidal flats and wetlands are rich in fish and benthic organisms, many of which are important aquatic resources with high economic value. According to a survey conducted by the Chongming Dongtan Bird Nature Reserve in 2005, the tidal flats and wetlands of Chongming Dongtan provide direct economic income of approximately 30 million yuan annually to local residents.
Tidal flats and wetlands also serve as an important ecological safety barrier for Shanghai. Studies have shown that wetlands in Shanghai provide over 90% of the city's ecological services. As one of Shanghai's largest tidal flat wetlands, Chongming Dongtan plays a vital role in regulating climate, purifying water quality, and resisting natural disasters such as storm surges. The rapid siltation of Chongming Dongtan's natural environment also provides a natural laboratory for studying the formation, development, and succession of estuarine wetland ecosystems. Due to its significant role in biodiversity conservation, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has included the Yangtze River estuary region, which includes Chongming Dongtan, among the 200 most important ecological regions in the world (Global 200 Ecoregions).
To effectively protect the wetland resources of Chongming Dongtan, the Chongming Dongtan Bird Nature Reserve was established by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government in November 1998. In 1999, the reserve was accepted as a member of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Wetland Network by the Asia-Pacific Office of Wetlands International. The "China Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan" formulated in 1992 classified it as an internationally significant A2-level wetland ecosystem type. The "China Wetland Conservation Action Plan" released in 2000 included it in the list of important wetlands in China. In 2002, Chongming Dongtan was listed in the list of internationally important wetlands. In August 2005, the Chongming Dongtan Bird Nature Reserve was upgraded to a national-level nature reserve.
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