Heze's efforts in biodiversity conservation pay off

Every morning in Zhangkang, a village located in Heze's Caoxian county, local villagers are awakened not by alarm clocks but the enchanting chirps of rare birds, such as egrets, night herons, and Chinese pond-herons.

Nestled amidst lush greenery, the village offers an ideal habitat for these avian visitors – it has nearly 66.66 hectares of forest land filled with locust trees, poplars, and elms, most of which are more than 30 years old.

"I did not see egrets in our village before 1990. Today, more than 30 species of rare birds have taken shelter here," said Wang Anzhan, a 56-year-old villager.

Such sightings are largely due to the efforts local authorities have taken to protect biodiversity and foster a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Caoxian county has to date invested 1.06 billion yuan ($148.8 million) into protecting and restoring the wetlands. Most of rivers and parks in Heze are now prime settlement areas for migratory birds.

Zhangkang village is presently one of the most popular destinations among bird enthusiasts and photographers. To cater to these individuals, the local government has built a four-story bird-watching base that offers visitors an ideal vantage point for viewing birds.

The base will also play a vital role in attracting investment, said Yang Ke, director of the Heze Association of Photographers.

In light of the growing number of visitors, the village has the opportunity to develop its homestay sector and introduce a guide service for bird enthusiasts, both of which will allow the locals to expand their incomes.

As the first city where the Yellow River, China's second-longest river, enters Shandong, Heze is rich in river and wetland resources. The city currently has 373.67 hectares of wetlands, 14 wetland parks above the provincial level and more than 200 species of birds, including 30 species of rare birds under national key protection.