Guizhou, a mountainous province full of wetland resources

Guizhou's Caohai National Natural Reserve has wetlands for many types of migratory birds to spend the winter. [Photo by Li Xiang/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River, Southwest China's Guizhou province is an important ecological barrier for the two rivers.

The subtropical humid monsoon climate has given Guizhou many strong river systems, and the river wetland is the main type of wetland in the province.

According to 2021 data, Guizhou has 7,146.67 hectares of wetlands, including 92.73 percent of inland tidal-flat areas, 5.5 percent of swamps, and 1.77 percent of swamp grasslands.

Guizhou's special geological conditions and excellent climate have created ideal wetland habitats for plants and animals. A survey showed that Guizhou has 1,457 species of wetland plants, including 10 species under national I grade protection and six species under national II grade protection.

Guizhou's wetland ecosystem also has 618 species of vertebrates, including seven species of birds under national I grade protection and 45 species of birds under national II grade protection.

Since Guizhou established its first national wetland park in 2010, the province has launched various regulations and measures to establish wetland protection and management systems.

Guizhou has also established a provincial wetland protection expert pool to carry out peat bog and carbon pool surveys, supplementary surveys of wetland plants, and dynamic monitoring and evaluation of provincial important wetlands.

From 2016 to 2020, Guizhou established 53 wetland parks and 96 wetland protection communities. By 2021, Guizhou's protection rate of wetlands reached 53.61 percent.