China News Service, Yangzhou, November 9th (Jiang Yue, Huang Jingyan, Zhu Xiaoying) On the 9th, the "Gathering Ecology and Painting Green Yangzhou" Eco-Yangzhou Tour media collection team organized by the Yangzhou Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau visited Sanjiangying, Yangzhou, and visited Sanjiangying's "Ecological Island" experimental zone to see the results of the construction. By looking at exhibition boards, listening to introductions, and viewing real scenes, the tour group witnessed how this ecological treasure land, located at the intersection of the Yangtze River, Jiajiang River, and Taiping River and the source of the eastern route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, has painted a new ecological picture with clear water, green shores, and flying birds and fish through cross-domain coordination and iron-fisted management.
On November 9, a media gathering group organized by Yangzhou Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment to “Gather Ecology and Paint Green Yangzhou Together” Eco-Yangzhou Tour visited Sanjiang Camp in Yangzhou. Photo by Cui Jiaming
As the water diversion source of the east route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the location of the water intake of Yangzhou’s largest fifth water plant, Sanjiangying’s ecological location is extremely important. In July 2023, Yangzhou Sanjiangying (Guangling, Jiangdu) "Ecological Island" experimental zone was officially approved, with a total area of 170.83 square kilometers, covering parts of 7 towns including Touqiao Town in Guangling District. Relying on its unique geographical advantages, the experimental area has carefully built an ecosystem structure with Sanjiangying and Phoenix Island as the "two cores" and the Huaihe River waterway as the "one corridor", connecting multiple nodes such as Liaojiagou and Baita River, which has comprehensively improved the overall biodiversity level of the region.
The eye-catching "Fun Sanjiang Camp in Touqiao" sign shows that while protecting the clear water at the source, the local area is actively exploring new paths for the integrated development of ecology, culture and tourism. Photo by Cui Jiaming
In order to protect the clear water of the river, the local area has unswervingly implemented the concept of "joint efforts to protect the river and not engage in large-scale development" in recent years. Shen Yan, director of the Agricultural and Health Affairs Office of Touqiao Town, Guangling District, Yangzhou City, said that since 2009, Touqiao Town has invested a total of more than 62 million yuan and shut down 2 riverside shipyards, 6 aquaculture farmers, 5 gravel docks and 1 floating restaurant in accordance with the law. Subsequently, the local government invested approximately 23 million yuan to promote the first and second phases of the wetland project. In particular, the second phase of the Sanjiangying Wetland project with a total area of about 730 acres has completed a total vegetation restoration area of about 140,000 square meters through the return of fishing to wetland and terrain reshaping, including the restoration of more than 2,000 terrestrial woody vegetation, 79,000 square meters of herbaceous vegetation, and the restoration of 62,000 square meters of wetland herbaceous vegetation, and the construction of more than 1,000 square meters of wooden planks and wooden platforms. Today, it has successfully constructed multi-gradient natural habitats such as open water, swamps, and tidal flats, forming four core sections of "Yangtze River Protection", "Tianfu Jiangzhou", "South-to-North Water Diversion" and "Yangtze River Encyclopedia".
While the hardware is being repaired, the ecological monitoring system is also being improved simultaneously. In October 2023, the Sanjiangying Biodiversity Observation Station was completed and put into use. By transforming the existing drainage station, setting up an instrument preparation room and diversity exhibition hall, and establishing a professional monitoring team, the station provides strong data support for the scientific protection of wetland flora and fauna and the increase of regional biodiversity.
The implementation of the Sanjiangying Wetland Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration Project is an effective way to implement the three-water co-management of "water pollution control, water ecological restoration, and water resources protection." This revitalized wetland not only effectively enriches the biodiversity of the Yangtze River Basin, but also continuously strengthens the self-purification ability of the water body. It also provides a solid ecological guarantee for the drinking water safety of the east route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the high-quality development of local ecological civilization construction. (over)
