Eco-measures swing into action to shield and develop resources

Haikou government said its wetlands are expected to cover 29,093 hectares or more by 2020.[Photo by Zhang Mao/China Daily]

To protect its precious wetland resources, Haikou has taken the lead as the first provincial capital in China to compile and implement a general plan on wetland protection.

The Haikou Wetland Protection and Rehabilitation Master Plan, launched mid last year, divides Haikou's wetland locations into first-class and second-class ecological functional zones, with four under the first-class category and 12 under the second class.

According to the master plan, between 2017 and 2025 the city will build Dongzhaigang National Wetland Nature Reserve, Haikou Bay National Ocean Park and Beigang Island National Ocean Park, four national wetland parks and three provincial wetland parks, as well as 45 wetland protection zones and the Yangshan wetland multi-purpose management zone.

The wetland multi-purpose management zone, which will provide care for both wetland resources and ancient villages located in and around the wetlands, was a brand new concept and model in protecting wetlands in China.

Under the master plan, Haikou will actively expand carefully regulated use of its wetlands, establish efficient wetlands ecological agriculture demonstration areas; develop wetlands tourism; accelerate development of its mangrove industries, and encourage the development of cultural and creative industries linked to the wetlands to safeguard sustainable use of their resources.

Haikou's authorities said the master plan aims for the city's wetlands to cover 29,093.09 hectares or more by 2020, with a wetland protection rate above 50 percent. By 2025, the total area of the wetlands is expected to expand to 31,918.09 hectares, with the wetland protection rate topping 60 percent.

To ensure success, the Haikou government has established a special group formed by city leaders, and drafted an implementation plan and a three-year action plan (2017-2019) to guide wetlands conservation and restoration undertakings.

Haikou was also the first city in Hainan to publicize its list of important wetlands, which includes 10 municipal-level wetlands and 11 district-level ones.

To strengthen technical guidance, the Haikou municipal government has set up a wetland protection expert committee, with academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and well-known specialists from around the country as its members.

This environmental success story is being promoted as a model for other cities to learn from.

In the meantime, Haikou will strictly implement Hainan's provincial regulations on the protective management of areas within ecological redlines - key ecological zones of sensitive and fragile ecological environment - and tighten control over Haikou's 13,193 hectares of wetlands that are included in provincial redline resources for ecological safeguarding.

Haikou has promulgated an assessment system on the creation of a so-called ecological civilization, which includes such indicators as wetland areas, wetland protection rates and a wetland ecological status as objectives.

Governments at all levels and relevant departments for wetland protection and management in Haikou have been tasked with utilization of wetlands according to strict duties and laws.

Illegal use of wetlands will be severely punished, and units and individuals who fail to protect wetland resources will be prosecuted.

Since 2017, 11 officials have been held accountable for ineffective protection of wetlands within their respective jurisdictions, according to the city government.