Greater efforts must be made to save fast disappearing wetlands

SO FAR, 186 people have died and 45 people are missing in the floods in 26 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. The direct economic losses from the floods that have affected some 33 million people are estimated to be about 50.6 billion yuan ($8 billion). Changes in land use, in particular the reduction of wetlands, due to social and economic development needs, have increased the severity of the floods. China Business News commented on Thursday:

Protecting wetlands not only helps in the fight against climate change and biodiversity conservation, it also helps flood control efforts and increases people's welfare.

According to the State Forestry Administration, over the past decade, China's wetland area has decreased by 3.40 million hectares, and floods, droughts, red tides, sand storms, desertification and other natural disasters are all closely related to the disappearance and degradation of the country's wetlands.