A publicity campaign for the 2022 World Wetlands Day was launched in Changsha on January 19. Hunan Vice Governor Wang Yi'ou attended.

Hunan Province is a major wetland cluster, and an earliest implementer of the Ramsar Convention in China. There are three world-class, five national-level, and 52 provincial-level important wetlands, and 78 wetland parks at and above provincial level. The wetlands are in rich variety.

In recent years, Hunan has taken great efforts to promote protection and restoration of the wetlands around Dongting Lake and along the four major rivers – Xiangjiang, Zijiang, Yuanshui, and Lishui. Thanks to the all-round treatment, the rivers and lakes are lucid, the river shores are green, and urban and rural areas present beautiful scenery. The ecological function of the wetlands has been notably improved. The number of the migrant birds wintering at Dongting Lake hit a record of decade, and the number of rare species surged.

Vice Governor Wang noted that, wetland protection is an important task in ecological civilization, which is closely related to ecological security of the country, and the sustainable development of economy and society. He stressed the need to follow Xi Jinping thought on eco-civilization, and thoroughly implementing the Law on Wetlands Protection. The principles of “putting protection first, and conducting strict management, systematic treatment, scientific restoration, and reasonable utilization” should be followed to advance wetlands protection and utilization in an all-round way. Works should be done to give full play to the eco-functions of wetlands, including water source conservation, climate regulation, environment improvement, and biodiversity maintenance, to ensure the wetlands in a sustainable and secure condition and contribute Hunan strength to the green development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Li Xianxing, deputy secretary general of the Hunan Provincial People’s Government, attended.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn