Haizhu Wetland in Guangzhou and other 17 wetlands in China were designated in 2022 as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced on February 2 on the occasion of the 27th World Wetlands Day.
Haizhu National Wetland Park, located in the southeast of Haizhu district, is a rare example of urban wetland situated at the central axis of a mega city.
With a population of more than 20 million, Guangzhou singled out a 1,100-hectare zone only 3 kilometers from the city's CBD, Zhujiang New Town, which could otherwise yield over one trillion yuan if commercially developed, to build a gorgeous wetland park and precious green spaces amid the hustle and bustle of the city. This kind of practice itself is rare in the world.
An ideal home for birds and insects, Haizhu Wetland has recorded 187 species of birds, 738 species of insects, and 60 species of fish as of January, 2023 and continues updating its insect map.
Following the expansion, the number of Wetlands of International Importance hit 82 in China, covering a surface area of 7.647 million hectares, the fourth largest in the world, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.
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