Experts in Shanghai have warned that rising sea levels could pose a serious and immediate threat to wild birds living near the city.

A joint study by researchers at Fudan University and the Nature Conservancy China Office shows Dong Tan, an important habitat for migratory birds at the mouth of the Yangtze River estuary, could be reduced by almost a half in the next 100 years.

The mudflats of the area's intertidal zone, which runs from the foreshore to seashore, is exposed at low tide and underwater at high tide, and serves as the main habitat for more than 200 bird species.

However, the joint study suggests that the mudflats will be reduced by 17 percent by 2050 and 39 percent by 2100, reducing vegetation that sustain fish and birds natural to the area. "The problem is the degradation of scirpus mariqueter, which is the main kind of vegetation on the salt marsh," said Tian Bo, a researcher with Fudan University's environmental sciences and engineering department. Scirpus mariqueter is the main food for hooded cranes, a rare species, as well as geese, ducks and spoonbills.

"The research will continue. When it is finished, we hope it can provide solid scientific reference to outline a long-term protection plan for Dong Tan," added Tian.

The reserve is one of the largest in East Asia. So far, 290 bird species have been seen on the wetlands, 20 of which are endangered, according to China Species Red List.

In 2002, Dong Tan was included into the Ramsar Convention, a treaty on wetlands of international importance, especially waterfowl habitats.

(China Daily 12/02/2009 page7)