'Harmonious and Beautiful Islands' program yields positive results

China's pioneering "Harmonious and Beautiful Islands" initiative has yielded tangible results in ecological conservation, improving living conditions and fostering sustainable economic growth.

With more than 11,000 islands, China's diverse island communities face shared challenges such as balancing environmental protection with economic development, improving public services, and tackling climate change, coastal erosion and scarcity of freshwater.

In 2023, the Ministry of Natural Resources designated the first batch of 33 islands as "Harmonious and Beautiful Islands".

Each island pursues a sustainable development path tailored to local conditions, focusing on ecosystem conservation, disaster risk reduction, improving living conditions and public services, and sustainable industries and livelihoods.

The selected islands have successfully integrated ecological conservation with disaster risk reduction, restoring surrounding marine ecosystems, protecting key ecosystems and habitats for rare, endangered and endemic species and controlling land-sea pollution.

Conservation efforts have restored over 200 kilometers of shorelines, 1,600 hectares of vegetation and 1,800 hectares of coastal wetlands, using 660,000 cubic meters of sand for beach nourishment.

More than 70 percent of ecologically damaged zones have been rehabilitated, leading to improved marine habitats, stabilized biodiversity and recovered ecological functions.

These islands have also strengthened coastal protection and disaster preparedness against extreme weather and geological hazards. Between 2023 and 2025,25.41 million yuan ($3.81 million) was spent in Liaoning's Dawangjia Island for reinforcing the seawall and emergency landslide management.

Some islands have developed digital management platforms for risk identification, early warnings and emergency responses, promoting a more proactive approach to disaster management.

To meet the residents' needs, these islands have upgraded their living environments, infrastructure and public service systems.

Local governments have renovated more than 40 piers and roll-on/roll-off berths and enhanced island-mainland connections with submarine cables and cross-sea grid interconnections, ensuring full power and telecommunication coverage.

Efforts to improve freshwater supply include cross-sea water pipelines, seawater desalination and water-supply pipeline upgrades. Desalination facilities are operational on 21 of the selected islands, and 30 islands have achieved more than 90 percent coverage of safe drinking water.

Local governments have upgraded 14 island schools and built, expanded or renovated 19 medical institutions.

Elderly-care and community services provided 600,000 home-based care visits to senior residents between 2023 and 2025.

Pollution control measures focus on fishing port, aquaculture pollution and marine litter.

Over 12,000 metric tons of marine and shore-based garbage are cleared annually, and more than 60 waste and sewage treatment facilities have been built or expanded.

Nearly half of these islands achieve 100-percent centralized treatment for domestic garbage and sewage, leading to reduced land-sourced pollutants and improved water quality in adjacent areas.

Additionally, the islands are pursuing green, low-carbon development by integrating clean energy and sustainable practices into community life. On half of the islands, clean energy accounts for more than 60 percent of total energy consumption.

Leveraging local resources, these islands are transforming traditional industries, promoting eco-friendly tourism and developing modern marine industries to create more income opportunities for the residents.

Over 30 marine ranching demonstration zones have been established, promoting innovative aquaculture models and developing seafood products with geographical-indication labels.

Zhejiang's Nanji Island exemplifies this transformation, shifting from traditional net cages to intelligent deep-sea aquaculture for large yellow croaker. In 2025, output reached 3,100 metric tons, valued at 380 million yuan.

Tourism on the islands leverages local natural scenery and cultural heritage, enriching local offerings and boosting local incomes.

Fujian's Yushan Island received 402,300 visitors in 2025 and registered 196 million yuan in tourism revenue, both figures increasing by nearly 50 percent year-on-year. More than 10 boutique homestay and cultural-creative leisure projects have been launched, creating jobs for 159 local residents.

Some islands are exploring digital and low-altitude economy sectors. Dongtou Island in Zhejiang has developed a digital-twin fishing port platform, while Zhuhai's Guishan Island has launched China's first regular public low-altitude logistics route.

With healthier ecosystems, stronger disaster resilience, better public services, growing sustainable industries and diversified income, the benefits of the "Harmonious and Beautiful Islands" initiative are becoming increasingly apparent.

China plans to continue this program by selecting more batches, refining selection and evaluation criteria, strengthening dynamic management and scaling up proven practices to enable more islands to achieve differentiated and sustainable development.

The author is a Beijing-based commentator on marine affairs.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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