Wetland's biodiversity and urban planting show progress of efforts to improve environment

Chinese crested tern, once thought to be an extinct bird species, are alive and well in the Minjiang River estuary wetland, a natural reserve park in Fuzhou, capital city of Fujian province in East China.

"Chinese crested terns have come to our wetlands every year since the first time we discovered them in 2000. Dozens of them have been spotted by bird watchers recently," said Yang Wenxiu, chief engineer in Minjiang River Estuary Wetland Natural Reserve.

The total population of the critically endangered bird used to be speculated at less than 50 around the world.

In addition to the Chinese crested tern, platalea minor, dalmatian pelican, collared kingfisher, spoon-billed sandpiper and 152 other species of water fowl were also observed there by local bird watchers.

Thanks to the well-protected natural environment and its rich biodiversity, about 50,000 birds now live in the 200-hectare wetland reserve.

In addition to offering a habitat to birds and fish, the wetland can also regulate the climate of nearby cities by mediating the temperature and purifying the air, Yang said.

According to a survey of wetland resources in Fujian province released in 2010, Fuzhou's combined wetland area covers 206,800 hectares, including 173,500 hectares of natural wetlands that account for 83.92 percent of Fuzhou's total.

The return of birds to Fuzhou's wetlands is one example of the city's efforts to improve and protect its natural resources.

Other efforts in ecological construction include the Fuzhou city government's plans to plant trees, increasing the city's green coverage.

According to a national survey, Fuzhou's forest coverage rate reached 55.3 percent in 2013, ranking second among all provincial or regional capital cities in China.

Its urban planting and landscaping have continued to improve in the two years since then.

By the end of 2015, green coverage in the urban areas of Fuzhou reached 43.41 percent, with a per-capita green space of 13.52 square meters, according to the Fuzhou Gardening Bureau.