August 15 marks the first Ecology Day of China. As one of the provinces with the richest biodiversity in China, Guangdong currently has 1,361 nature reserves, with a forest coverage rate of 53.03%. The province has provided space for various creatures to survive and reproduce.

GDToday has launched a special column on Guangdong's efforts on eco-conservation.

Made the national botanical park a "Noah's Ark" for endangered wildlife

(Photo: Nanfang Daily)

When stepping into the South China National Botanical Garden (SCNBG), it seems you have entered a colorful plant kingdom. Here, people can see a variety of rare and endangered plants, such as Chinese sweetshrub, woolly fern, and Firmiana danxiaensis.

Since its official inauguration on July 11, 2022, the SCNBG has successfully helped many critically endangered plants endemic to Guangdong to return to the wild. The protection path includes "wild introduction - nursery cultivation - artificial colony - return to the wild".

At present, the SCNBG has collected and protected over 17,000 species of higher plants, including 643 species of rare and endangered plants under ex-situ conservation. SCNBG, together with other nature reserves, constitutes the "Noah's Ark" of Guangdong's rare and endangered wildlife.

Built an international mangrove wetland city

(Photo: Nanfang Daily)

On February 2, Shenzhen's Futian Mangrove Wetland was listed in the Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Futian Mangrove Wetland is located in the northeast of Shenzhen Bay. It is about 6 kilometers long along the coastline and has a total area of 367.64 hectares. The wetland is the only national nature reserve with the smallest area in the hinterland of the city. It mainly protects mangroves and birds.

The mangrove reserve is an important "transit station" for international migratory birds in the eastern hemisphere. Every year, nearly 100,000 long-distance migratory birds winter in Shenzhen Bay. A total of 262 species of birds have been recorded, such as black-faced spoonbill, yellow-billed egret, and osprey.

More natural education sites for residents opened

(Photo: Nanfang Daily)

The China Nature Education Conference was held in Guangzhou on July 8, 2023. According to the Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province, in 2023, the province has increased 19 new nature education bases, bringing the total number to 115.

Some of the well-known nature education bases include Danxia Mountain Geopark, Guangzhou Haizhu National Wetland Park, South China National Botanical Garden, Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Wetland Park, and Guangdong Tree Park. Most bases can be reserved online.

These places also offer free nature classes for children. For example, Nanling National Park has launched a Yao Traditional Folklore Exhibition and opened some South China historical trails for visitors. The SCNBG has also utilized artificial intelligence and big data to transform the garden into a popular nature teaching place.

Author: Ariel

Poster: Alice

Editor: Olivia, Steven, Abby, James