Chongming Island is an estuarine island with complex ecosystems,providing habitats for endangered species, and is an important stopover and wintering ground for the East Asia-Australia international migratory birds, carrying the livelihoods of 600,000 people. It is also a sensitive and vulnerable area in terms of biodiversity loss and climate change. In the last century, an exotic species, Spartina alterniflora, was introduced as a response to climate change, severely crowding out indigenous plants and encroaching on indigenous fauna and flora habitats. To this end, in 2001, Chongming Island promote biodiversity and enhance human well-being through comprehensive restoration projects, such as the removal of exotic species and the restoration of biodiversity, the treatment of ecological pollution and the promotion of water ecosystem restoration, as well as the cope with global climate change and build a carbon neutral demonstration area. It was initiated by the Shanghai Government and supported by the UNEP, UN-Habitat, WWF, TNC, and other organizations,with the participation of the local people.

Based on the concept of sustainable development, Chongming Island has carried out comprehensive ecological restoration initiatives and achieved remarkable achievements. For example, the eradication of the exotic species of Spartina alterniflora in Chongming Dongtan Wetland of International Importance promoted the gradual recovery of local indigenous plants and the return of a large number of rare and endangered birds to Chongming Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve in Shanghai; and afforestation promoted an increase in forest cover from 13.49% in 2004 to 30.7% in 2023.

For more relevant information, please see the attachment:

Chongming Island Ecological Restoration Series News.pdf