Liyashan Wetland in Haimen district, Nantong, Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: haimenfabu]

The National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced on Dec 20 the inclusion of the Liyashan Wetland in Haimen district, Nantong, Jiangsu province, among its 789 national key habitats for terrestrial wildlife.

The primary protected species in the wetland include the black-headed gull, spoon-billed sandpiper, great knot, and ruddy turnstone, with the Liyashan National Marine Park serving as the primary protection area.

In 2006, The State Oceanic Administration approved the establishment of a marine special protection zone in Liyashan Wetland, making it the first national-level marine special protection zone in the province. Following field investigations and research conducted by the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other relevant research institutions, it has been determined that the wetland is a unique and rare marine wonder in China, holding significant scientific research and tourism development value.

Collectively, the recently designated 789 habitats cover approximately 82 percent of the nation's key protected terrestrial wildlife species, according to authorities.