China reports major gains in wildlife conservation, habitats

Restored wetlands welcome new flocks of migratory birds. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]

China has made significant progress in wildlife conservation, with improved habitat quality and stable population growth for numerous endangered species, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Over 80 percent of key State-protected terrestrial wildlife species in the country have been brought under protection, the administration noted in a media release on Tuesday, which marked the United Nations World Wildlife Day. This year's theme is "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods".

The administration said the number of key wild animal and plant species under State protection now totals 988 and about 1,200, respectively. An additional 1,924 terrestrial wild animal species are now protected under the category of having significant ecological, scientific, or social value, it added.

The release highlighted an in-situ conservation system centered on national parks. The country's first group of five national parks, established in 2021, now covers nearly 30 percent of key terrestrial wildlife species under State protection.

It added that China has designated the first 789 important habitats for terrestrial wildlife, identified 1,140 bird migration corridors, and established over 500 in-situ conservation sites for rare and endangered wild plants.

The administration also noted a series of measures for wild plant conservation. China has established two national botanical gardens and three key laboratories for wild plants. A network of seven national forest and grass germplasm resource banks has been set up, collecting and preserving over 28,000 species of wild plants.

More than 300 species have been successfully reintroduced into the wild, it said.