Migration paths to be eased for birds, wild animals

China is to make more efforts to facilitate migration for wild creatures at home and overseas as it optimizes land use, according to an official.

Zhang Zhanhai, chief engineer at the Ministry of Natural Resources, said that following instructions from the central authorities, the ministry has accelerated draft plans for areas of land that serve different purposes, with biodiversity a priority.

Speaking at a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office on Oct 8, Zhang said the ministry would coordinate areas of land for ecological conservation and agriculture as it steps up efforts to protect ecosystems, species and hereditary resources.

Zhang said that to build a biodiversity conservation network interconnected with the global system, onsite and relocation measures will be used to enhance protection of key areas for such conservation－domestically and overseas.

Cross-border migration corridors will be set up to facilitate the migration of birds and rare wild creatures, he added.

He said special teams have been formed in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi province, to research birds' migratory routes that pass Poyang Lake, the country's largest freshwater lake.

"All areas along the migratory routes have been encircled by ecological conservation red lines for rigid protection," Zhang said.

As part of the nation's efforts to enhance ecosystem integrity, measures will be accelerated to intensify urban ecological conservation, he said.

For example, Shanghai has established 21 parks in key locations on the city's outskirts for ecological conservation.

Efforts will also be accelerated to set up a national integrated information system for land use, he said. A long-term monitoring and early warning mechanism will also be established for use of land, which could help increase biodiversity conservation.