The red-crowned crane is a magnificent bird found primarily in China, Japan, Mongolia and Russia. Revered throughout Chinese history, this elegant creature is known as the “xianhe,” which translates to “fairy crane.” It has long captured Chinese hearts, appearing on clothing and in paintings, architecture and literature as a symbol of happiness, auspiciousness, longevity and fidelity.

Unfortunately, since the early 21st century, the red-crowned crane has faced many a challenge, primarily due to habitat loss. As a result, its population has declined dramatically, leading to its designation as a first-class national-level protected animal in China.

A number of national wetland parks, such as the Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, have contributed to the recovery and proliferation of the red-crowned crane and other endangered species.

“The Zhalong reserve spans an impressive 210,000 hectares, with wetlands—an ideal habitat for birds—making up over 80 percent of the area,” Wang Chao, a staff member at the Zhalong reserve, told newspaper Guangming Daily. “Today, Zhalong is home to more than 260 bird species, including the red-crowned crane.”

Wang added, “Currently, there are approximately 4,000 red-crowned cranes in the wild, with nearly 300 nestings in Zhalong. But it’s not just the cranes that are thriving; in recent years, as the wetland environment has improved, many other animals that were once elusive have begun to reappear in the reserve.”

Stronger together

The success of protecting the red-crowned crane in Zhalong can be largely attributed to the effective preservation of the local wetland ecosystem. To safeguard this habitat, the local government implemented a long-term water supply strategy for the reserve. Since 2009, annual funding has been allocated for artificial water replenishment, resulting in a cumulative water volume exceeding 3.07 billion cubic meters.

This investment has greatly enhanced the wetland’s natural conditions and biodiversity. With ample water resources and an increase in aquatic plants, the ecosystem now supports a wide variety of animals, providing them with suitable habitats and abundant food sources.

In addition to water management, Zhalong has launched an ecological relocation project for residents living in the core area of the wetland. This initiative aims to minimize human interference in the ecosystem and create a more conducive environment for the birds.

The project involves relocating several households, for whom the local government has constructed new resettlement homes and provided supporting facilities, along with compensation to ease their transition.

The Zhalong reserve is one of several national-level nature reserves dedicated to restoring wetlands and protecting the species that depend on these ecosystems for survival.

Wetlands are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, often referred to as the “kidneys of the Earth.” They provide crucial habitats for numerous rare species and play a significant role in water conservation and purification.

This February 2 was the 29th World Wetlands Day, an international observance established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that has been celebrated since 1997. This day aims to raise public awareness about the importance of wetlands and celebrate achievements in their conservation. The theme for this year’s activities was “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future.”

A strong advocate for environmental protection, China has taken solid steps in wetland restoration since the 1990s.

According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, the country has launched over 3,700 wetland protection and restoration projects, resulting in the conservation and recovery of more than 1 million hectares of wetlands.

In 2005, China initiated a project to establish national wetland parks. Over the past 20 years, these parks have successfully protected 2.4 million hectares of wetlands nationwide and have contributed more than 50 billion yuan ($6.8 billion) to regional economic growth during the period.

The Wetland Protection Law went into effect on June 1, 2022, with the goals of enhancing wetland protection, preserving ecological functions and biodiversity, ensuring ecological security, and promoting the construction of an ecological civilization.

Over 90 percent of national wetland parks are open to the public free of charge, aiming to harness the social potential of wetlands while raising public awareness about their protection, which is at the heart of World Wetlands Day.

“Since the implementation of the Wetland Protection Law, local residents have become enthusiastic about wetland conservation. In recent years, we have stepped up efforts in law enforcement, public awareness campaigns and educational programs focused on wetland protection. During the migration season of the red-crowned cranes and in celebration of World Wetlands Day, we have organized both online and on-site educational activities. These events have yielded remarkable results, with many people actively participating in protecting wetland resources,” Guo Yuhang, Deputy Director of the Zhalong National Nature Reserve Administration, told Guangming Daily.

Benefits for all

In addition to establishing nature reserves and wetland parks, China also strives to maintain the stability of wetland ecosystems by preventing and controlling the invasion of alien species. As of late 2024, China had controlled and eliminated approximately 73,340 hectares of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), an invasive plant that can disrupt aquatic ecosystems when it proliferates uncontrollably. This effort has effectively halted the plant’s unchecked spread in east China.

“We attached great importance to wetland protection measures in the later stages, including the removal of invasive species and the adjustment of wetland communities and habitat structures. Without proper post-maintenance efforts, it is difficult to sustain the stability of wetland systems,” Wang Bochi, a staff member at the administrative office of the Baima Lake National Wetland Park, told newspaper Xinhua Daily.

“It is part of our routine work to remove aquatic plants such as duckweed and alligator weed to preserve the ecological balance of the wetlands. Alligator weed is an invasive species with a strong reproductive ability that can crowd out native plants,” Wang added.

Located in Huaian, Anhui Province in east China, Baima Lake suffered?substantial degradation due to overexploitation by local fishing businesses in the 1980s. Today, it has transformed into an important stopover for birds migrating between the north and the south. The lake was included in the List of Internationally Important Wetlands in 2023.

To ensure the employment of fishermen who’d lost their jobs following the establishment of the Baima park in 2015, the local government assisted fishermen around the lake in finding jobs. Many of these fishermen have since become staff members at the park, leveraging their knowledge of aquatic environments and species.

Over the years, the Baima park has played a big part in protecting biodiversity. Currently, it is home to 316 species of vascular plants, an increase of 165 since 2015. What’s more, 210 bird species have been recorded in the area, a rise of 79 compared to 2015.

“Baima Lake now hosts numerous winter migratory birds, including national-level protected species such as the oriental white stork, Siberian accentor and peregrine falcon,” Yu Xinghan, Vice President of the Wetland and Wildlife Protection Association of Huaian, said.

“The wetland park has organized bird-watching competitions for two consecutive years, driving more attention to and protection of Baima Lake. In the first year, all participating teams were from Huaian, whereas in 2024 [for the second edition], half of the teams came from different regions across China,” Yu added.