DALIAN, July 28 (Xinhua) -- To untrained eyes, dozens of Chinese egrets, a vulnerable species with distinctive yellow bills, wading through sunlit shallows at the Changshan Archipelago may seem like an ordinary coastal scene.
But the archipelago in northeast China's Liaoning Province is no ordinary patch of land. Home to the world's largest breeding population of the species, the archipelago has become the latest addition to a globally significant ecological network.
On Monday, the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, the Republic of Korea, approved the boundary modification of the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China, officially incorporating the archipelago into the World Heritage site.
The move marks another expansion of the World Natural Heritage site following a 2024 update. It further improves the integrity of the migratory bird sanctuaries series, an important practice in China's integrated conservation of coastal natural resources, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.
Sitting on the only sea route of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, the archipelago serves as a critical stopover for tens of millions of migratory birds crossing the Bohai Sea.
The newly added heritage section covers more than 4,900 hectares. The area is rich in biological resources, with over 140 recorded bird species.
The area features unique ecosystems for migratory bird breeding and migration, providing abundant food and ideal conditions for birds, said Lyu Yongquan, director of Changhai County's natural resources bureau.
"This is an innovative step in China's biodiversity conservation system, demonstrating steady progress toward a win-win future for both nature and economy," said Jia Yifei, an associate professor at Beijing Forestry University.
Behind the World Heritage recognition lies years of dedication by local communities to protect the fragile ecosystems.
Li Qingsen, a 50-year-old native islander and member of the county's forest fire brigade, has spent years guarding Fantuozi Island in the archipelago, a core breeding ground for the egrets.
"Fantuozi Island is uninhabited. To protect the egrets from unwelcome intruders, 20 team members take turns staying on the island in pairs from spring to autumn," he said.
Living conditions on the 0.08-square-kilometer island are harsh. The island has no fresh water or dock. "We carry large barrels of water and wade ashore from boats anchored 10 meters offshore. Instant noodles are our staple food because they save time and water. We even skip washing our faces to conserve every drop," Li said.
Bad weather is the greatest challenge for the patrol teams. "Each shift is usually 24 hours, but a team may be stranded for days during storms. Once, a pair stayed for a week. When they returned, they were unshaven and disheveled, like castaways," he recalled.
Fantuozi Island is less than half covered by shrubs, which serve as the nesting grounds for the egrets. However, the island's poor soil and acidification caused by years of accumulated bird droppings have led to the withering and death of some shrubs in recent years.
To restore the habitat for birds, the county launched a shrub replanting project in 2022, replacing surface soil with fertile earth and planting more than 2,200 shrubs.
The efforts have paid off. "The number of Chinese egrets at the island has steadily increased, estimated at 3,500 this year, including 1,500 adults and nearly 2,000 chicks," Lyu said.
Thousands of Chinese egrets arrive in the archipelago each April from Southeast Asia to breed and rear their young, staying until early September before migrating south for the winter. At present, young egrets are already practicing flight above the treetops. By autumn, they will join their parents in a southward migration.
"In spring and autumn, the birds cross mountains and seas to meet us, like a romantic promise," Li said. "Though guarding them is arduous, seeing them soar fills us with profound pride and fulfillment." ■
