Strengthen the protection and restoration of wetlands and help build beautiful gardens throughout the territory

Wetlands are known as the "kidneys of the earth", together with forests and oceans, and are known as the world's three major ecosystems, with important ecological functions such as conserving water, regulating climate, improving the environment and maintaining biodiversity. Hunan is a large wetland province in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the first province to implement the International Convention on Wetlands. The province has established 3 wetlands of international importance, 5 wetlands of national importance, 52 important wetlands at the provincial level, and 78 wetland parks at or above the provincial level, with a wetland protection rate of 70.54%, which has played an important role in maintaining the ecological security of the Yangtze River Basin.

In recent years, the Hunan Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government have deeply implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions of "jointly grasping great protection, not engaging in large-scale development" and "guarding a river and clear water", and solidly promoted the protection and restoration of wetlands in the whole basin of "one lake and four waters". Our province has successively promulgated important laws and regulations such as the "Hunan Provincial Wetland Protection Regulations" and the "Hunan Wetland Protection and Restoration System Implementation Plan", which have made a top-level design for wetland protection and restoration. Vigorously implement the special action of ecological environment governance of Dongting Lake, clear 401,000 mu of European and American black poplar, repair and clean up 521,900 mu of traces, beaches and shorelines, and the GEF project won the final evaluation of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. In the "Four Waters" basin, 38,500 mu of farmland was returned to forest and wet, and 106 pilot projects of small and micro wetlands were built. A number of engineering projects such as wetland protection and restoration and wetland biodiversity conservation have been implemented, and 1.2813 million mu of degraded wetlands have been restored during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period. After comprehensive treatment, the ecological function of wetlands in the province has been gradually restored, the number of wintering migratory birds, elk, finless porpoises and other rare and endangered species in Dongting Lake has increased significantly, and the beauty of wetlands gathered by zhiting orchids and sand gulls on the shore has been re-displayed in front of the world.

On December 24, 2021, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Wetland Protection was officially promulgated, marking a new stage in the development of wetland protection under the rule of law. We should take this law as a guide, adhere to the priority of protection and green development, effectively strengthen the protection and restoration of wetlands, promote the overall improvement of wetland ecological functions, and make positive contributions to the construction of beautiful Hunan. Mainly grasp the following aspects:

First, adhere to strict supervision. In accordance with the provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on wetland protection, the Regulations on wetland protection in Hunan Province were revised in a timely manner, and the regulations on wetland protection were continuously improved. The protection and development of wetland resources will be included in the assessment scope of the forest chief system, and the ecological protection responsibility of local party committees and governments will be consolidated. Reasonably delineate the scope of wetlands included in the red line of ecological protection, clarify the list of wetlands, and make all archives and records and put the above pictures into the library. Vigorously build a wetland protection network system, and give priority to areas with important ecological value into natural protected areas. Actively carry out special law enforcement actions, increase the intensity of daily inspection and supervision, and severely crack down on all kinds of illegal and criminal acts that damage wetland resources.

The second is to adhere to comprehensive management. In accordance with the requirements of the governance of the grass and sand system of Shanshui Lintian Lake, we will strive to build an ecological green ring of "one lake and four waters" in the whole basin to promote the healthy development of the wetland ecosystem. Solidly carry out the cleaning of poplar trees and the restoration of traces in Dongting Lake, and conscientiously implement key projects such as the protection and restoration of internationally important wetlands in Dongting Lake. With the ecological improvement of the river and the afforestation and greening of the two banks outside the river as the core, the "four waters" river ecological corridor will be built, and the "Thousand Mile Waterfront Corridor" of the Xiangjiang River will be created. Consolidate and expand the results of the pilot project of returning farmland to forests and returning wetlands in the "Four Waters" basin, vigorously promote the pilot project of protection and construction of small and micro wetlands, restore a number of rural small and micro wetlands, and give full play to the role of wetlands in agricultural non-point source pollution control.

The third is to adhere to rational utilization. Firmly establish the concept of "green water and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains", rationally use the natural and human resources of wetlands, promote the development of ecological tourism, ecological leisure, ecological breeding and other industries, and give full play to the ecological, economic and social benefits of wetlands. Adhering to the principle of ecological industrialization and industrial ecology, we will continue to inject new kinetic energy into the protection and utilization of wetlands and provide richer and better ecological products for the people. Actively explore the establishment of wetland compensation mechanisms, carry out research on wetland carbon sinks, transform a good wetland ecology into the most inclusive people's livelihood and well-being, and strive to achieve the goals of ecological benefit, ecological benefit and ecological people.

The fourth is to adhere to multi-party participation. Make full use of traditional and emerging media, combined with World Wetlands Day, World Wildlife Day, World Water Day and other festivals, vigorously publicize the great significance, laws and regulations and scientific knowledge of wetland protection and restoration, and make every effort to create a good atmosphere for the protection of wetlands in the whole society. Establish and improve the joint conference system for wetland protection and restoration, and strive to build a work pattern in which each performs its own duties and fulfills its responsibilities. Encourage and guide social capital to participate in wetland protection and restoration, and mobilize all social forces to participate in wetland ecological construction. Relying on institutions of higher learning and scientific research institutes and other institutions, vigorously carry out research on key technologies for wetland protection and restoration, and develop a number of pragmatic and effective new technologies and new achievements.

Let us join hands to thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, strictly implement the Law of the People's Republic of China on wetland protection, comprehensively strengthen the protection and restoration of wetlands in the whole basin of "one lake and four waters", consolidate and improve the carbon sequestration capacity of wetland ecosystems, promote the construction of beautiful gardens throughout the territory, and consolidate the ecological foundation for the implementation of the "three highs and four new" strategy.

(The author is Secretary of the Party Group and Director of the Forestry Bureau of Hunan Province)