At the estuary of the Yellow River, Dongying in East China's Shandong province has emerged as a leader in ecological restoration and conservation. By focusing on wetland protection, water management, and biodiversity, the city is advancing both environmental protection and sustainable development.
The Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve has become a flourishing habitat where rare bird species nest and thrive. Clear waters and restored landscapes reflect years of effort to balance human activity with ecological preservation. Recent actions include updating several local regulations on ecological protection and introducing a long-term strategy to build an ecological corridor along the Yellow River.
Tangible results have been achieved: 19 villages were relocated to modern communities equipped with centralized wastewater treatment, 300 petroleum sites within the reserve were dismantled and restored, and nearly 33,000 hectares of wetlands have been established. Artificial wetlands now filter agricultural runoff, improving water quality from the lowest standard to a much higher grade. The main stream of the Yellow River through Shandong has maintained a high level of water quality for four consecutive years.
Restoration continues across the delta, with large area of wetlands, saline-alkali lands, and seagrass beds rehabilitated. Looking forward, Dongying is accelerating the creation of a Yellow River Estuary National Park, strengthening water and soil protection, and expanding ecological corridors — demonstrating a lasting commitment to safeguarding the Yellow River Delta for generations to come.
An increasing number of birds choose the Yellow River Delta as their home. [Photo/IC]
