Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

SHENZHEN’S dedication to preserving its mangroves and nurturing its ecological environment has garnered praise from expats and professionals who attended the launch ceremony of the International Mangrove Ecological Protection Initiative in Shenzhen.

The event, organized by the Global Commercial Newspapers Union and held yesterday in Futian District, showcased the city’s remarkable green initiatives.

Jane Evgeniia Kozlova, a Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassador from Russia, expressed her admiration for the city in her speech during the ceremony. She said her love for Shenzhen began the moment she arrived at the airport in 2017.

“Shenzhen is one of the greenest cities in China. I learned that Shenzhen has a ‘mountains and seas connecting the city’ project that embraces the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature,” Kozlova said in her speech.

In Kozlova’s view, Shenzhen’s verdant parks and tree-lined streets serve as a testament to the city’s dedication to sustainability, making it a perfect epitome of sustainability.

“Shenzhen’s parks provide a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. I think it’s amazing,” Kozlova said.

Matteo Convertino, an associate professor at Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School and also a Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassador, emphasized the importance of mangroves in his speech. He described them as the “lungs” of Shenzhen and highlighted their role in countering climate urgency through nature-based development.

“Mangrove, as the keystone species, has an incredibly high ability to secure habitat accretion, minimize sea-level rise effect, and maximize carbon sequestration,” Convertino said.

As of December 2021, Shenzhen (excluding Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone) boasts some 296.18 hectares of mangrove forests. Over the past decade, the area of mangrove forests in the city has increased by 120.48 hectares, with a growth rate of 68.57%, according to information released by the Shenzhen Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau.

In the winter, thousands of migratory birds find refuge in a State-level mangrove nature reserve in Futian District, the smallest of its kind in China and the only one located in an urban area, nestled near one of the city’s busiest avenues and less than a kilometer away from the bustling downtown.

The setting up of restricted fishing areas in Shenzhen Bay, as well as moves restricting nighttime lighting and introducing specially designed stickers on glass building façades in a bid to prevent bird collisions are impressive steps to create a bird-friendly environment, Ma Haipeng, honorary vice president of Baguang Nature School, said at the ceremony.