Covering a vast area of 20,278.8 hectares, Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve is the largest and most concentrated mangrove nature reserve in China. It boasts a rich biodiversity, with 26 species of mangrove trees, 312 species of birds, and countless aquatic economic animals, such as fish, shrimp, crab, and shellfish. Therefore, the reserve in Zhanjiang is regarded as "a granary full of fish and shrimp" and "the paradise for migratory birds".
Mangroves are a group of trees and shrubs that live in the coastal intertidal zone. They can only grow at tropical and subtropical latitudes near the equator because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures. Known as "the forests on the sea," these unique trees thrive in saltwater and become the connection between the land and the ocean. Not only do they stabilize the coastline, but they also reduce erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides. Besides, the intricate root system of mangroves also makes them attractive to fish and other organisms seeking food and shelter from predators.
"The mangrove forest we often refer to is not just a forest but an ecosystem," noted Wu Xiaodong, Chief of the Scientific Research and Education Section, Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve Administration. "It includes the forest, wetland, various organisms, and so on."
As the city with the longest coastline in Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang has 6,398.3 hectares of mangrove forests, accounting for 23.7 percent of the mangroves found in China and 60.1 percent of those found in Guangdong Province. As a result, Zhanjiang attaches great importance to the mangrove ecosystems. In March 2023, Zhanjiang proposed to build itself into "the city of mangroves" and published several policies to strengthen the protection and restoration of the mangrove ecosystem. For example, the Zhanjiang People's Procuratorate has launched a special surveillance program for the "Mangrove City" and has taken the initiative to establish the first ecological protection alliance for mangrove forests and national wetland parks.
Zhanjiang's government has added an extra 2,000 hectares of mangroves to its coastline while the global trend of mangroves is declining. The success of Zhanjiang's mangrove conservation efforts serves as a model for other coastal regions worldwide, highlighting the importance of protecting and restoring mangrove ecosystems for the well-being of both human beings and the planet.
In the future, Zhanjiang will continue to promote the protection of mangrove ecosystems, striving to make Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve a symbol of Zhanjiang ecotourism and contribute to the harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
Reporter: Nick, Li Muzi
Videographer: Pan Jiajun, Li Muzi
Video Editting: Pan Jiajun
Editor: Nan, James
