YANCHENG DRIVES WETLAND RESTORATION

City pioneers ecological rehabilitation and eco-tourism through nature-based solutions

Yancheng, the first city in China to hold both the prestigious titles of a Natural World Heritage city and an international wetland city, is leveraging high-standard ecological protection to connect its Natural World Heritage Sites, picturesque fishing ports, and unique resources.

The city is dedicated to building a world-class coastal ecological tourism corridor, positioning itself not only as a guardian of wetland ecosystems but as a pioneer in transforming ecological advantages into sustainable development momentum and tangible benefits.

Local communities are actively participating in conservation and tourism initiatives, underscoring the city's commitment to environmental stewardship.

Along Yancheng's 582-kilometer coastline, ecological restoration projects are turning areas once plagued by Spartina alterniflora, a coastal cordgrass native to the United States, into multilayered ecological barriers.

This invasive species has long posed serious threats, such as slowing ocean currents, clogging tidal creeks, causing large-scale die-offs of wetland plants, and reducing habitats for birds to forage and nest.

Key protection move

As China's main battlefield for Spartina alterniflora control, Yancheng has prioritized this work as a key measure to protect wetland biodiversity and coastal ecosystem security. The city follows the principle of "minimal intervention for maximum effectiveness", exploring replicable solutions for national management that balance human needs with ecological health.

This initiative is just one part of Yancheng's broader ecological restoration and enhancement efforts aimed at reshaping its coastal wetland landscape.

By adopting innovative nature-based solutions (NbS), Yancheng has implemented systematic protection and restoration projects.

Since 2022, coastal areas in Dongtai and Sheyang have applied NbS to carry out projects like the ecological transformation of seawalls, coastal line improvement, and wetland system restoration.

Over two years, these projects have restored 1,550 hectares of coasts, improved 22.9 km of shorelines, built 9.5 km of ecological seawalls, and controlled 495 hectares of invasive species, resulting in a three-level ecological barrier consisting of intertidal zones, salt marsh wetlands, and terrestrial buffer zones.

In June, Yancheng's marine ecological protection and restoration project — Let Nature Work: NbS Answers for World Heritage — was selected as one of 15 national typical cases, making it the only project from Jiangsu to receive this honor.

Biodiversity stronghold

From a satellite perspective, Yancheng's Yellow Sea Wetland, spanning more than 4,550 square kilometers, unfolds like a fan and holds immense ecological significance in Asia and globally.

This vital ecosystem serves as a key resting stop for migratory birds traveling between the northern and southern hemispheres.

In 2019, the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I), located in the Yellow Sea Wetland, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming China's first coastal wetland-type Natural World Heritage Site.

Dongtai's Tiaozini Wetland, one of the core areas of this heritage site, has implemented nature-based ecological restoration, setting a global example for coastal wetland protection.

To better safeguard the wetlands, Yancheng initiated ecological restoration projects. In the Tiaozini Wetland, Dongtai converted 48 hectares of land closest to birds' foraging areas into a high-tide bird habitat through micro-topography modification, wetland restoration, and environmental improvements.

"Ecological engineers have also designed a multilevel water regulation system to simulate natural tidal rhythms, preserving shallow water areas for plovers and sandpipers," said Jia Yifei, an associate professor from the School of Ecology and Nature Conservation at Beijing Forestry University, noting that this design has significantly boosted local bird populations.

The effectiveness of Yancheng's efforts is evident in the growing number of rare birds flocking to the area. In recent years, the Tiaozini Wetland has recorded as many as 224 spoon-billed sandpipers, one of the world's most endangered bird species.

The scientific community widely agrees that if an area is recognized by spoon-billed sandpipers — a species highly sensitive to ecological conditions — it means the environment is suitable for more than 140 bird species worldwide. Today, rare birds such as oriental storks, Saunders's gulls, and dunlins frequently visit the Tiaozini Wetland.

Bird-watching economy

With the continuous improvement of the ecological environment, biodiversity in Yancheng has flourished, fueling the rise of the bird-watching economy and driving the accelerated development of wetland ecotourism.

"The Tiaozini Wetland used to attract only a handful of birdwatching enthusiasts. Now, more and more people are coming, and ecotourism products such as study tours and family trips, centered on wetland bird-watching and connecting with nature, are becoming increasingly popular," said Ding Jianming, a bird-watching enthusiast who is now a professional guide at the wetland.

Many international bird-watchers also travel long distances to visit, making the site one of the key inbound tourism destinations in the Yangtze River Delta, he added.

Yancheng is now accelerating the launch of distinctive tourism products, including bird-watching, tide-pooling, and health-and-wellness experiences, with tailored routes for groups such as families and photographers.

It has also highlighted the "three treasures of wetlands" — milu deer, red-crowned cranes, and spoon-billed sandpipers — to strengthen its tourism brand.

With an industrial mindset for developing global cultural and tourism offerings, the city is integrating scenic areas such as Tiaozini Wetland Park, Huanghai National Forest Park, and China Milu Park into a unified tourism chain, transforming the natural beauty of green mountains and clear waters into the economic value of "gold and silver mountains "while ensuring sustainable development.

As Yancheng continues to refine its ecological protection measures and enrich its tourism offerings, it not only consolidates its reputation as a global eco-tourism destination but also contributes valuable lessons to the world's pursuit of sustainable development.

In the future, this coastal city will undoubtedly shine brighter as a pearl on China's coasts, where nature thrives, tourists enjoy, and harmony between humans and the environment becomes a lasting reality, experts say.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn