UN body partners with private sector to set up sustainable patrol at nature reserve

The initiative coincides with the population growth at the reserve. Situated at the Yangtze River estuary, Chongming Dongtan hosts 364 bird species, including 82 under national protection.

"We've seen extraordinary growth in numbers," Niu said. "For instance, we rarely saw Tundra Swans wintering here around 2004 due to invasive species. By 2023, we recorded over 2,900 individuals during peak season, with about 2,000 expected this year."

This revival follows years of strategic ecosystem management. In the early 2000s, the reserve tackled invasive smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) that threatened native vegetation and wildlife food chains. A 2013 restoration project transformed 24 square kilometers into optimal bird habitat, effectively controlling the invasive species.

The reserve employs a comprehensive monitoring system. Professional teams conduct 18 synchronized surveys annually. The reserve has also installed over 200 surveillance cameras monitoring 80 percent of the area, reducing human interference.

International collaboration remains critical to the reserve's approach, according to Niu. The site shares data and expertise with partners along the migration route, engaging with institutions such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK) and Australian waterbird research groups.

"Migratory birds are like diplomatic envoys, their presence here reflecting the coordinated conservation efforts of multiple countries along their migration route," Leng noted.

"We're not just protecting birds," she said. "We're demonstrating how conservation efforts can embrace green technology and sustainable practices, creating a replicable model for conservation worldwide."