WWF and China SFA’s MoU highlighted coastal wetland protection

Press Release by WWF

Shanghai, China –Highlighted coastal wetland protection for the first time, China State Forest Administration and WWF singed the annual MoU today. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the Dutch King.

WWF and China SFA’s MoU highlighted costal wetland protection ©WWF China

©WWF China

“The agreement includes the content of China’s coastal wetland protection for the first time,” According to Wenwei Ren, Director of Yangtze footprint, WWF China, “ Herewith China has committed itself to the protection of a crucial part of the coastline. The Dutch royal’s visit and presence made this ceremony a real historical and privileged one.”

The Dutch King, who is on the state visit to China, witnesses the ceremony. King Alexander is keen on topics of water resource management, and has put nature and environment protection a highlight of this trip. The same estuary country as China is, Netherlands has extensive experience in costal wetland protection, which will inspire China with a series of applicable successful cases.

Protecting hotspots
According to the agreement, WWF will support SFA in its academic and research activities with other member countries in EAAFP (East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership); WWF will do monitoring and protection work on migratory shorebirds species In China’s coastal wetlands; WWF will also continue its work on estuary wetlands including Chongming Dongtan [EAAF002], Fujian Minjiang, Shenzhen on wetland restoration, wetland protection and environmental education.
Awareness-raising campaigns will also be launched about the importance of wetlands and there will be an active exchange of knowledge with other delta countries like the Netherlands.

Hotspot for bird lovers
The king’s itinerary included a tour of a special nature reserve on Chongming Island, near Shanghai in the Yangtze estuary. Since 2002, WWF has had a successful nature conservation project in the region. It is also an important recreation area. The king watched birds and was given a demonstration in bird-ringing. The Chongming Dongtan nature reserve also hosts international research into the living environment of migratory birds and biodiversity.
During autumn and spring, Chongming provides an important foraging and resting place for migratory birds on their way from Siberia to the south and vice versa. This famous birdwatching paradise is home to more than 250 bird species, including various species of cranes, geese and ducks.

WWF and China SFA’s MoU highlighted costal wetland protection ©WWF China

©WWF China

For more information, please contact:
Yiyi LU, Communications officer, WWF China
Email: yylu@wwfchina.org phone: +86 10 6511 6244

Peng Fan, Senior Communications officer, WWF China
Email: pfan@wwfchina.org phone: +86 21?66056653-8817

About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

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