Wetland reclamation halted for bird review
Print Edition
A land reclamation project at a wetland in Pudong was suspended over the weekend while its effect on migratory birds is reviewed. The wetland serves as a natural habitat for tens of thousands of migratory birds.
The state-owned Harbor City Development Group stopped reclamation work at Nanhui Dongtan Wetland after receiving many public opinions and suggestions on the project, the Shanghai Lingang Area Development Administration said on Saturday.
The reclamation of tidelands in the Nanhui Dongtan, which lies by the East China Sea, had been accelerating in recent years, turning more of the area into usable land resources for urban development of the Lingang area.
However, the work is crimping the habitat and food supply of birds.
Migratory birds — representing more than 280 species — visit the wetland every year. They include rare speciessuch as the black-faced spoonbill, a level-2 national protected bird.
The developer’s bulldozers have been removing reeds, draining ponds and reclaiming land at the wetland since late last year, threatening migratory birds, according to the local volunteer group Bird Helper.
“Many young birds in the reeds might be killed by bulldozers during the project since it is the breeding season for the birds,” a volunteer with the group said.
Bird Helper publicized a letter on the Internet to ask Lingang authority to abort the project to save the birds.
“If the project continues, most migratory birds to the Nanhui wetland will have no food or habitat this autumn while those near extinction species will face disastrous impacts,” the letter said.
The wetland area, a 90-minute drive from downtown Shanghai, stretches more than 50 kilometers along the sea and is on the migrating route for birds between East Asia and Australia.
Lingang administration will invite a professional third party to research whether to develop a permanent wetland for migratory birds in the port area, while taking public opinion into account, the administration said.
Currently, no such wetland has been planned.
The port area of the city aims to develop itself into a new town in the city’s southeast featuring science and technology, culture, finance, trade and tourism.
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