TIANJIN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- As spring returns, large numbers of migratory birds are stopping over at the Qilihai Wetland in north China's Tianjin Municipality on their northward journey, a testament to years of dedicated restoration work.
Flocks of rare species, including oriental storks and Baikal teals, have been recorded at the site, a crucial stopover on the East Asian-Australasian flyway, one of the world's major migratory bird routes.
"I often spot geese and swans flying overhead, along with some birds whose names I don't know," said Yu Yanting, 34, a resident of Jiefang Village located just over 700 meters from the wetland's core area in Ninghe District.
Wetlands, which cover about 6 percent of the Earth's land surface, play a critical role in supplying water resources, maintaining biodiversity and mitigating climate change.
However, wetlands have been shrinking globally, with 22 percent having disappeared since 1970, according to the Global Wetland Outlook 2025.
The Qilihai Wetland also suffered damage in the past. Reed cutting and aquaculture by surrounding villages led to water pollution and ecological degradation.
"Back then, villagers lacked ecological awareness. Fishing boats crisscrossed the wetland and fish feed was dumped directly into the water, which harmed the water environment," said Yu Wendong, Party chief of Jiefang Village.
Local authorities launched a large-scale wetland restoration campaign in 2017, demolishing illegal buildings, reducing human activities and reconnecting water systems.
The campaign came at a cost. Yu Yanting's family, who made a living harvesting water fleas in the wetland, lost their primary income when fishing boats were banned from entering the wetland, leaving them deeply uncertain about the future.
"At first, we couldn't understand why the government cut off our livelihoods," she said. "But village officials explained that protecting the environment would bring us better lives in the long run."
Notable progress has been made. By 2025, grassland, forest and water areas accounted for 46.63 percent of its wetland reserve, while water and air quality improved significantly, with high levels of negative oxygen ions.
"We now live at a natural oxygen bar. The air is extremely fresh here," said a villager named Wei Yilai.
The improved environment has helped to attract more wildlife. By the end of 2025, the number of bird species in the wetland had increased to 308, and that of wild plant species had risen to 183. Each migration season, between 500,000 and 600,000 birds make a stopover at the reserve.
The restoration has also helped to boost local livelihoods with booming tourism and sales of local agricultural products.
In 2022, Jiefang and its neighboring villages leveraged historical, cultural and ecological resources to create a 3.8-km study tour route.
Jiefang Village alone receives more than 20,000 visitors a year on average, generating about 2 million yuan (about 290,000 U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue and creating more than 6,000 local jobs, according to the village Party chief.
Yu Yanting is among those who have benefited. Once a stay-at-home mother facing financial pressure, she successfully secured a job as a guide for the tourism project.
"The job not only provides me with a steady income but also helps me find my own value," she said.
The benefits extend far beyond Jiefang Village. Thanks to cleaner water and richer soil in the wake of ecological restoration, local agricultural products like sweet potatoes, rice and crabs reported bumper sales, said Tian Xiujing, director of the Tianjin Qilihai Wetland nature reserve management committee.
Qilihai Wetland offers just a glimpse of wetland conservation efforts in China. According to China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the country has consistently strengthened the ecological conservation and restoration of its wetlands in recent years, with the country's total wetland area now ranking first in Asia and fourth globally.
The country is home to 22 accredited international wetland cities, the highest number globally. Additionally, 903 national wetland parks have been established, with approximately 90 percent offering free admission to the public, attracting around 320 million visitors annually.
More protection efforts are still underway. In March 2026, China's national legislature passed the country's first Ecological and Environmental Code. As China's second formal statutory code following the adoption of the Civil Code in 2020, the legislation aims to protect the ecological environment and promote green development through the strictest systems and the most rigorous rule of law.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will further improve its legal and regulatory framework regarding wetlands, strengthen monitoring and early warning systems for wetland protection, and accelerate the establishment of mechanisms to realize the value of wetland ecological products.
"Now we enjoy cleaner air, sweeter water and fuller wallets, all gifts from the Qilihai Wetland. A good ecological environment is a true blessing for us," said Yu Yanting. ■
