Tourists gather seafood on the mudflat in Rudong. [Photo/WeChat account: rudongfb]

The coastal wetlands of Rudong county in Nantong, Jiangsu province, have been revitalized through scientific restoration efforts and systematic governance.

In 2024, the Rudong Golden Coast Ecological Restoration Project was selected as a provincial-level demonstration project for integrated protection and restoration of mountains, waters, forests, fields, lakes, grasses, and sands.

Rudong has formed a professional team in collaboration with multiple research institutions to diagnose core issues such as blocked intertidal biological channels, declining salt marsh function, and low biodiversity.

Next, the county initiated a systematic governance initiative guided by ecological protection. The total governance area is 932.53 square kilometers, distinguishing different ecological types such as intertidal zones and salt marshes, and implementing five major categories of projects according to local conditions.

To date, Rudong has completed 776.21 hectares of ecological restoration, including 427.6 hectares of saline-alkali land improvement, 3.61 hectares of forest land upgrading, and 345 hectares of management of invasive alien species.

Birds frolic and soar in flocks in Rudong. [Photo/WeChat account: rudongfb]

Nowadays, the habitat area for migratory birds has more than doubled, regional biodiversity has significantly rebounded, and ecosystem service functions have been comprehensively enhanced.

Besides the improvement in the ecological environment, Rudong is actively cultivating green industries such as ecotourism and ecological agriculture. More and more tourists are coming to watch birds and visit wetlands, and local residents are increasing their income by operating farmhouses, homestays, and selling ecological agricultural products.