China has been working to promote the coexistence of humans with nature. Our reporter Yu Li visited Yancheng in Jiangsu Province, home to vital migratory bird sanctuaries and host city of the World Coastal Forum. She spoke with researchers and officials about China's efforts to protect biodiversity and safeguard the environment for future generations.
Meet the spoon-billed sandpiper.
These adorable migratory creatures, with their distinctive spoon-shaped beaks, are critically endangered. Globally, only about 440 remain. They've been spotted here in Yancheng – China's first coastal wetland-type Natural World Heritage Site.
YU LI Beijing "I'm currently in Yancheng, on the eastern coast of Jiangsu Province, China. This region is truly special – it's home to the largest and most pristine coastal wetlands on the western Pacific."
Every year, more than three million migratory birds traveling along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway stop here to rest, molt, spend the winter, or breed.
The spoon-billed sandpiper is among them.
ZHAO YONGQIANG Director of the Avian Research Center, Jiangsu Yancheng Wetland National Nature Reserve of Rare Birds "We detect about 200 spoon-billed sandpipers passing through the coastal areas of Yancheng each year."
Zhao's team has successfully bred 300 red-crowned cranes, one of China's top-class protected species, and is carrying out wilderness adaptation training to boost their numbers in the wild.
The team now hopes to apply similar conservation methods to the spoon-billed sandpiper.
ZHAO YONGQIANG Director of the Avian Research Center, Jiangsu Yancheng Wetland National Nature Reserve of Rare Birds "We are conducting rescue, captive breeding, and rewilding release efforts for similar species in the hope of better understanding its habits and laying the groundwork for future population recovery through studying ecologically similar species."
As these long-distance migrant shorebirds traverse between the Southern Hemisphere and the Arctic regions of Alaska and Russia, their protection demands a coordinated global effort.
At the 2025 World Coastal Forum, scientists, financial institutions, and governments are collaborating to protect critical migratory stopover habitats for these species.
One of the key challenges lies in resolving the spatial and ecological conflicts between human activities and the preservation of critical bird flyways and habitats.
QIU JINGHUI Deputy Director of Public Interest Litigation Department Supreme People's Procuratorate of China "Procuratorial authorities across China have launched a special operation targeting casualties of migratory birds caused by the use of mist nets in agricultural production and aquaculture. This issue reflects the inherent tensions between socioeconomic development, the legitimate rights and interests of the people, and the protection of wildlife and the natural environment. It represents not only a governance challenge but also a complex global problem."
Procuratorial authorities are pursuing preventive public interest litigation in key flyways and habitats, aiming to tackle risks before they cause real damage. This approach has won strong recognition from BirdLife International.
VINAYAGAN DHARMARAJAH Regional Director for Asia BirdLife International "The issue of birds nets is such a big problem across Asia and across the world, but nobody has really taken action to address it, but here in China, the government started to look at them and look at them in a creative way."
From initiatives that boost rare species populations to government-led operations safeguarding migratory bird flyways, China is actively protecting ecological environments and biodiversity. This commitment ensures that future generations will inherit lush mountains, clear waters, and thriving ecological spaces. YU LI, CGTN, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province.
