May 22 wasInternational Day for Biological Diversity, of which Guangzhou’s Haizhu wetland is a perfect example.  

Located in the city center amidst at network of rivers, Haizhu wetland abounds with water plants, making it a perfect rest area and habitat for migratory birds.

Thanks to Haizhu’s efforts to protect the wetland in recent years, more species have been found there. The number of bird species has increased from 72 to 180, and insect species have reached 536.

Covering an area of 1,100 hectares, the land where Haizhu wetland is located has a potential commercial value worth over one trillion yuan ($156.42 billion). The Guangzhou government decided to build the wetland park after weighing the city’s commercial development against ecological protection.

To guarantee the city’s sustainable development, Guangzhou released specialized regulations in 2018 that preserve the wetland against encroachment by urban construction.