Wetland protection bears fruits in northernmost province of Heilongjiang

Source: Xinhua| 2019-06-28 17:37:35|Editor: Yamei

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Red-crowned cranes are released into wild at Zhalong National Nature Reserve in northeast China's Heilongjiang.

BEIJING, June 28, 2019 (Xinhua) -- When summer comes, the Fujin National Wetland Park in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province becomes a paradise for wild birds. However, it was a completely different scene years ago. The wetland park used to be a huge tract of low-lying farmland. The original ecological system of the wetland has been restored since policies were implemented to turn marginal farmland into forests, grassland and wetlands across the province. Zhalong National Nature Reserve, some 700 km away from the Fujin wetland, has also seen an increasing number of rare birds in recent years.

Heilongjiang boasts bountiful wetland resources, with 55,600 square km of wetlands. The province has unveiled wetland protection regulations as early as 2003, one of the earliest provinces in China to carry out local legislation to protect wetlands. In 2018, the province stepped up efforts to manage illegal agricultural development and tourist facilities around wetlands in Heilongjiang. Meanwhile, tough measures to crack down on illegal hunting of wildlife and more campaigns of wildlife protection have been carried out in the province over the past few years.

Photo taken on June 18, 2015 shows an aerial view of the Nanwenghe wetland in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Photo taken on June 16, 2017 shows the wetland scenery amongst the morning mist along the Wusuli River in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Congjun)

Aerial photo taken on July 31, 2018 shows the scenery of Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

A red-crowned crane is seen flying at Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Meng Chenguang)

Red-crowned cranes are seen at Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Red-crowned cranes are seen at Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 1, 2018. (Xinhua/Meng Chenguang)

Tourists visit the National Fujin Wetland Park in Fujin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

Tourists visit Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 1, 2018.(Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Photo taken on Aug. 20, 2014 shows the scenery of the National Fujin Wetland Park in Fujin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.(Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

Photo taken on June 16, 2017 shows the wetland scenery amongst the morning mist along the Wusuli River in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Congjun)

Cleaners work at Longfeng wetland nature reserve in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 3, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Tourists ramble on a walkway at a wetland in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 2, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

Waterfowls fly above the wetland near Xingkai Lake, border lake between China and Russia, in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

Photo taken on Sept. 21, 2017 shows the scenery of the Zhenbao Island wetland in Hulin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

Photo taken on July 4, 2017 shows scenery of Longfeng wetland nature reserve in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Photo taken on June 16, 2017 shows the wetland scenery amongst the morning mist along the Wusuli River in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Congjun)