Zhengzhou values the wetlands ecology for high-quality development

February 2 marks the 27th anniversary of World Wetlands Day( WWD). The theme of WWD in 2023 is Wetland Restoration, with the aim of raising public awareness of the contribution that wetlands make to human and the planet, and promoting action to restore wetlands.

Wetland protection is to protect water resources, species resources,and the lifeblood of human survival. In recent years, Zhengzhou has done a good job in wetland protection and made efforts to build an ecological protection demonstration area along the Yellow River.

According to statistics, the total area of wetlands in Zhengzhou is 57,812.60 hectares, including pond wetlands, lake wetlands, river wetlands, urban constructed wetlands, diversion canals, fish ponds and scattered paddy fields, which together constitute the unique wetland ecological landscape of Zhengzhou.

In November 2004, Henan provincial government approved the establishment of Zhengzhou Yellow River Wetland Nature Reserve. With a total area of 37,441.4 hectares, the reserve is one of the most representative river wetlands in China and one of the most biodiverse wetlands in central China.

 ▲ swans dancing along Beilonghu Lake in Zhengzhuo   [photo/Ma Jian] 

In 2008, the State Forestry Administration approved the construction of Zhengzhou Yellow River National Wetland Park, which is the first national wetland park in our province. The wetland park was completed in May 2012 and is open to the public free of charge. It receives more than 600,000 tourists every year, becoming a leisure and sightseeing resort for people to walk into nature and understand the wetland.

Behind the increase in the number of migratory birds, is the improvement of the local ecological environment in recent years, more inseparable from the efforts of "bird protectors".

After the Start of Spring, the weather begins to warm up and migratory birds slowly migrate north." Wang Yang told reporters that with the ecological restoration of fish ponds, farmlands and woodlands in the Yellow River Beach Park, the natural habitat of the Yellow River Beach area is getting better and better. I believe that more wild birds will be attracted to stay here next year, roosting and breeding offspring, especially looking forward to meeting with these migratory birds again next year.

Like Wang Yang, there're also many environment lovers in Zhengzhou, which may be one of the indispensable  reason that the life vitality of Mother River be more vigorous and colorful.