Once polluted lake regains its glimmer

SHIJIAZHUANG — A flock of ducks spotted in a large wetland in northern China in June has caught the media's attention.

Aythya baeri is the scientific name of the blue-headed Baer's pochard, which is categorized as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and is under level-one State protection.

The ducks made their debut in July last year, attracting crowds of interested observers to Baiyangdian, the largest freshwater wetland in northern China, where the rare birds have now become regular breeders.

The discovery of these rare ducks excited Hou Jianhua, a professor at Hebei University's School of Life Sciences, who said that the Baer's pochards are the latest beneficiaries of rising environment awareness.

Baiyangdian Lake is located in Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. Touted as a "future city", Xiong'an prioritizes environmental protection, and the improved wetland is a typical example of China's efforts to pursue green, high-quality growth.

In contemporary Chinese literature, the lake is a significant landmark. Sun Li, a novelist, published Lotus Lake — Memories of Baiyangdian in the 1940s.

It is a story about the Communist-led resistance by peasants battling Japanese invaders.

One section of the book, which is required reading at middle schools, was set in Baiyangdian's wetlands. Reed beds, towering lotus fields and an abundant lake harvest distinguished this battlefield from other revolutionary battlefields.

However, the lake was severely affected by industrial pollution between the 1960s and the 1980s, when chemical-filled sewage poisoned the water and the lake bed, killing a large number of aquatic animals.

As a result of climate change in the 1990s, the lake nearly dried up, and the degradation of the habitat and human activities caused bird populations to plummet. Since Xiong'an New Area was created in 2017, the lake's rehabilitation and protection have been bolstered.

Local governments tightened control over sources of industrial and agricultural pollution by shutting down the companies responsible. They also replenished water supplies and allowed millions of hectares of agriculture to revert to wetland. The efforts have paid off. The first sign of progress was the water quality, which rose from Grade V, the lowest level in China's five-tier quality system, to Grade III.

As the water quality improves, more wild creatures are returning to Baiyangdian. The number of bird species has risen to about 254, and the lake has steadily evolved into a haven for lotus, reeds and a plethora of fish species.

Local residents have changed their attitudes, too. They now understand more than ever that conserving the lake has both economic and environmental benefits, and are working to develop tourism.

Technological support is driving environmental progress. The local bureau began deploying unmanned patrol boats equipped with real-time video feedback. The high speed and low latency of 5G, combined with virtual reality equipment, enables workers to conduct visual inspections of the lake surface and obtain real-time data.

Xinhua