Kaisha Island in Tongzhou district in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, has made strides in improving its natural environment in recent years, local media reported.

As a provincial tourist resort, the island is currently a haven for various species of birds due to its improved environment.

According to the Tongzhou bureau of the environment, 43 species of birds were spotted on the island, including two species under national second-class protection and one species listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The improved environment has also advanced industrial development on the island, including the sports industry.

The island has established the China Table Tennis (Tongzhou Training Base and Jiangsu Yangtze River Golf Club) to boost the development of the sports industry.

Last year, the island was designated the provincial demonstration base for the integrated development of the tourism and sports industries.

According to authorities, the island this year will implement a pilot project to improve the environment.

The project is expected to finish within two years.

Birds spotted on Kaisha Island. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

An aerial view of Kaisha Island in Tongzhou district. [Photo/Nantong Daily]