HAIKOU /China/, February 22. /TASS/. More than 100 thousand waterfowl wintered in the area of Danzhou Bay in the northwest of China's Hainan Island in 2024, Hainan Daily reported with reference to official data.

According to the paper, this part of the province has vast wetlands with mangroves, which are protected by the state. Birds from all over the world flock there.

Experts estimate that 62 species of aquatic birds have been recorded in the bay in one year. The project to track their movements and nesting, funded by the Beijing-based SEE Foundation, is overseen by the Danzhou Department of Natural Resources and Planning.

Wetlands Institute of Haikou (the administrative center of Hainan) is directly responsible for implementing the research program, which began in 2019. According to experts, the number of species of birds wintering in Danzhou recorded by the authorities is constantly increasing.

The consistency of the birds migrating to this part of the island, as confirmed by scientists, indicates the high stability of the local ecosystem. At the same time, more and more birds are coming to Danzhou Bay to spend the winter. This also indicates a high level of ecology.

Hainan plays an important role in international efforts to conserve the planet's biodiversity. It is also considered one of the regions in China with the richest flora and fauna. In recent years, the administration of China's southernmost province has revised and promulgated dozens of laws and regulations to protect nature reserves, forests, mangroves, corals and shellfish. Local authorities have published a plan to protect the island's flora and fauna by 2030, which is expected to provide a major boost to the implementation of comprehensive environmental protection measures.