A few days ago, the reporter learned from the Chongming Dongtan Bird National Natural Reserve that the Chongming Dongtan Bird National Natural Reserve has officially become the nominated site of the world natural heritage of the habitat of migratory birds in the yellow sea (Bohai Sea) (Phase II) in China. At present, the work of applying for the world heritage is being carried out in an orderly manner.

In order to protect the world heritage with outstanding significance and universal values worldwide (including world cultural heritage, world natural heritage, world cultural and natural heritage), UNESCO adopted the “Convention on Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage” (the Convention) in 1972 and officially began the implementation of it in 1976. China formally acceded to the Convention in 1985. At present, China has 56 world heritages, including 14 natural heritages, 4 natural and cultural heritages, and 38 cultural heritages.

China's Yellow Sea (Bohai Sea) Migratory Bird Habitat is a series of world natural heritage projects declared by China to the World Heritage Center, which is divided into two phases. The first phase includes two heritage sites in Jiangsu, which were approved to be included in the world natural heritage list at the 43rd World Heritage Conference in July 2019. At the meeting, the Chinese Government also announced the launch of the phase II world heritage application, adding more migratory bird habitats in the Yellow Sea (Bohai Sea) region to the world heritage list.

Chongming Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve, located in the southern edge of the Yellow Sea ecological area, is an important stop in the migration route of migratory birds from East Asia to Australasia, with the reputation of Birds’ Paradise. The East Asia Australasia migratory bird migration route, which spans Northeast Asia and Australia, is one of the migration routes of millions of migratory birds in the world.

Chongming Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve, as a "transit station", allows long-distance flying birds to stop here, supplement energy, and finally complete the task of migration and reproduction.

Every year, the total number of waterfowls transiting and wintering in the reserve is more than one million. Among them, there are many star species such as oriental stork, little swan, white headed crane, black faced Spoonbill, etc. So far, more than 300 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve, including 22 species of global threatened species, 18 species of national first-class protected animals and 59 species of national second-class protected animals. A total of 14 species of waterfowl account for more than 1% of the global population.

The rich biodiversity makes Chongming Dongtan have important ecological value worldwide. Recently, it was officially listed as the world natural heritage nomination site of migratory bird habitat (phase II) in the Yellow Sea (Bohai Sea) in China. "We have submitted the application materials to the World Heritage Center. Next, it will be the critical period of preparation. We will further do a good job in the overall planning of the reserve, infrastructure reconstruction, energy level improvement of the reserve, the construction of exhibition venues for the world heritage application, and the creation of the World Heritage application atmosphere around the criteria and requirements of the world heritage application, so as to be fully prepared for the inspection of the UNESCO World Heritage Application Evaluation Expert Group. If it can be approved at the World Heritage Conference next year, Chongming Dongtan will become the first World Heritage site in Shanghai", said Fu Xiaosheng, Deputy Director of Management Affairs Center of Chongming Dongtan Nature Reserve.