Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, issued measures on management of provincial natural reserve of wetland at the north branch of the Yangtze River estuary on May 19, according to the local bureau of natural resources.

The measures include 25 items and several inspections were made during the drafting process. A working team was set up, consisting of officials from relevant departments. The measures are expected to provide institutional guarantees for the management of the nature reserve.

The wetland nature reserve at the north branch of the Yangtze River estuary, which covers 214.91 square kilometers, sits at the confluence of the Yangtze River, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. It gained a provincial permit of establishment in November 2002.

The wetland is rich in water and animal resources, and plays a significant role in maintaining the area's biodiversity. As a rare and typical large estuarine wetland, it is an important place for migrating birds from Northeast Asia and Australia, and a favorable shelter for wintering waterfowls.

In 1989, Qidong established the Xinglongsha Bird Nature Reserve, the first county-level nature reserve in China. It has helped protect a number of rare birds such as red-crowned cranes, white cranes and white-head cranes.

Birds fly freely at Xinglongsha Bird Nature Reserve in Qidong, Nantong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]