The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Annotated Ramsar List: China

The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance

CHINA / CHINE

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for China on 31 July 1992. China presently has 30 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 2,937,481 hectares.

site; date of designation; region, province, state; surface area; coordinates
site; date de désignation; région, province, état; superficie; coordonnées
sitios; fecha de designación; región, provincia, estado; área; coordenadas

Bitahai Wetland. 07/12/04; Yunnan; 1,985 ha; 27º42'N 100º01'E. Provincial Nature Reserve. An alpine wetland between 3,000 and 4,260 meters above sea level, with swamps, lake, peatlands, and adjacent forest cover. The site has very high hydrological values such as flood prevention and control in the key catchment zones of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; as part of the Jinsha River watershed in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, it supplies water to the aquifers and stabilizes the flow in the lower reaches of the Yangtze. The lake is the home of the endangered endemic fish Ptychobarbus chungtienensis chungtienensis, and the site is situated in the core zone of the Hengduan Mountains Biogeographical Region, one of the three major endemic floral diversity centres in China. The Nature Reserve attracts a large number of tourists every year, to whom the local people provide horse-riding services. Production activities of the surrounding communities are largely husbandry and agriculture, with a majority of cash income generated from collecting and selling Tricholoma matsutake mushroom, raising cows, and selling diary products. Ramsar site No. 1434. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Chongming Dongtan Nature Reserve, Shanghai. 11/01/02; Shanghai; 32,600 ha; 31°38'N 121°58'E. Nature Reserve. An extensive area of fresh and salt water marshes, tidal creeks, and intertidal mudflats at the eastern end of Chongming Island, a lowlying alluvial island in the mouth of the Yangtze River, which supports farmland, fish and crab ponds, and extensive reedbeds. The site is a staging and wintering site for millions of birds, as well as a spawning and feeding ground for 63 species of fish, including the protected Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis). Due to its extraordinary resources and scenic qualities and its proximity to the city of Shanghai 45km away, the site is an attractive destination for ecotourism and environmental education (though the numbers of visitors within the site are regulated), and supports an important fisheries economy as well. Continuing tidal and sedimentation influences on the island itself and development pressures outward from the city are being watched for adverse effects. An ongoing project, parts of it with support from GEF and WWF, is developing the site into a centre for environmental education and training. Ramsar site no. 1144. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Dafeng (Elaphurus davidianus) National Nature Reserve. 11/02/02; Jiangsu; 78,000 ha; 33°05'N 120°49'E. National Nature Reserve. A typical intertidal mudflat ecosystem on the coastline of the Yellow Sea, supporting a wide variety of rare animal species, including 315 species of birds (23 of them nationally protected), 600 of insects and 156 of fish, as well as the threatened Pere David's Deer or "Milu" (Elaphurus davidianus) for which the Reserve was chiefly gazetted. Following the introduction of 39 Milu in 1986, the population has grown to nearly 500 individuals, said to be the largest Milu population in the world; the population is in fact outgrowing the site's capacity, and research on the release of the Milu into the wild is ongoing. The site performs all of the normal coastal wetland functions, such as flood control, sediment retention, and shoreline stabilization, to a high degree. Ecotourism and education are carried out within the site, with some 150,000 visitors per year, and the surrounding areas are used for forestry and agriculture. Agricultural development, including land reclamation, and chemical runoff are seen as significant threats. Ramsar site no. 1145. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Dalai Lake National Nature Reserve, Inner Mongolia. 11/01/02; Inner Mongolia; 740,000 ha; 48°33'N 117°30'E; National Nature Reserve. A complex of lakes, rivers, marshes, shrubs, grasslands and reed beds typical of wetlands in arid steppes, still retaining near-natural conditions. A staging area in the East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Flyway, the site is important for some 284 bird species, particularly Anatidae and shorebird species, and exceeds the 20,000 individuals and 1% thresholds for a number of species. Some 30 fish species are supported, of both Siberian and Northeast China types, and some are economically important. The Dalai Lake region, as the only lower land of the Hulunbeir Plateau, has great significance for flood storage, sediment retention, and groundwater recharge, and is critical for maintaining regional climate and increasing air humidity. Tourism offers birdwatching, boating, and traditional Mongolian foods, customs, and cultures, and the area is becoming a center for environmental education and research. Fishing is the primary activity of the water area, accounting for some 10,000 tons of economic fish per year, and livestock grazing in surrounding grasslands involves more than 2 million animals. Over-fishing within the site and over-grazing leading to desertification in the area are listed as potential threats. A management regime is in force. Ramsar site no. 1146. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Dalian National Spotted Seal (Phoca vitulina) Nature Reserve. 11/01/02; Liaoning; 11,700 ha; 39°15'N 121°15'E. National Nature Reserve. A coastal area of the Bohai Sea, 20km from Dalian City, consisting of sea floor covered by pedestal rock of between 5 and 40 meters' depth and including over 70 islands and islets with rocky coasts and reefs. The sites provides habitat for 100 species of fish and numerous shellfish, as well as breeding grounds for a number of whale and dolphin species. It is as a reserve for the spotted seal Phoca vitulina, however, that the site is best known and for which it attracts large numbers of tourists from the nearby city and elsewhere. The cycle of the seals' lives is tied to the icing and melting conditions, as, following the adults' migratory routes through the Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea, young seals are born on the ice within the site and remain with a nuclear family until the ice breaks up some three months later in March. Following many years of unrestricted hunting, which has been banned since 1983, the spotted seal population has fallen to about 1000 and the species is presently considered endangered. Climate change effects and pollution are thought to be potential threats. Ramsar site no. 1147. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Dashanbao. 07/12/04;Yunnan; 5,958 ha; 27º24'N 103º20'E. National Nature Reserve. A peat moor in subalpine swamp meadows, between 2,210 and 3,364 meters above sea level, with shallow water vegetation such as Poa annua Linn, Geum aleppicum, and Cyperus serotinus. Major hydrological functions include flood control and water recharge to supply ground water to downstream and hillside spring vents. The site supports the highest concentration, representing one fifth of the world population, of Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis, a globally endangered species, and is important for other migratory waterbirds, e.g. Mergus squamatus, Ciconia nigra, Grus grus, and Cygnus Cygnus, as well. Protection measures include a restoration project to promote community-based forestry and returning farmlands to forestry, increasing foraging space in moor lands and pastures, protection of wild plants, marsh vegetation restoration, water quality improvement, media productions, and an educational campaign for communities. Local people within the core zone are being encouraged and compensated to relocate, and a Grus nigricollis rescue station has been established. Ramsar site No. 1435. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Dongdongtinghu. 31/03/92; Hunan; 190,000 ha; 29º19’N 112º59’E. Nature Reserve. A freshwater lake with numerous smaller lakes and ponds, marsh, swamp and wet grassland fed by flooding from the Yangtze and four other rivers. The site is extremely important for 20 species of wintering and staging migratory birds, and supports 200 species of fish, of which 20 are commercially important. Ramsar site no. 551. Most recent RIS information: 1997.

Dongzhaigang. 31/03/92; Hainan; 5,400 ha; 19º59’N 110º35’E. Nature Reserve. Small shallow sea bay of extensive intertidal mudflats and mangrove swamps. The swamps are important feeding and nursery areas for waterbirds and fish. The site is located in a densely populated region, surrounded by numerous villages and large rice paddies. A mangrove restoration project is under way. Ramsar site no. 553. [reprint of management plan, 1999] Most recent RIS information: 1997.

Eerduosi National Nature Reserve. 11/01/02; Inner Mongolia; 7,680 ha; 39°48'N 109°35'E. National Nature Reserve. A typical Euro-Asian grassland and Asian desert with high ecological fragility, including a large number of permanent freshwater and saline lakes and pools, with islands, and human-made aquaculture ponds. The sites supports some 15,000 breeding Relic gull (Larus relictus) in May and is a staging area for 60% of the world's population of that species; some 83 other species of waterbirds are also present, with 18 of them breeding there. Within the site, 16 villages support a population of 6,400 people who rely upon undeveloped argiculture, forestry, and livestock grazing for their livelihoods; fish farming is also practiced within the site. Desertification and soil erosion, and over-extraction of groundwater, in this area adjacent to the Maowusu and Kubuqi Deserts, are seen as potential threats. Land use is under a holistic planning regime under the Nature Reserve authority. Ramsar site no. 1148. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Eling Lake. 07/12/04; Qinghai; 65,907 ha; 34º56'N 097º43'E. Nature Reserve. The largest freshwater lake in the Yellow River catchment with high hydrological values, regulating run-offs, retaining sediments, maintaining water quality, and preventing flooding. At over 4,200 meters on semi-arid plateau, the lake is an important habitat for the globally endangered Grus nigricollis, Anser indicus, Larus ichthyaetus, Phalacrocorax carbo, and Larus brunnicephalus, and supports key fish species including Gymnocypris eckloni Herzenstein and Gymnodiptychus ptychocheilus Herzenstein. The sub-Himalayan plant community forms the main food of livestock and the source of traditional Tibetan herbal medicines. The lake plays an important role in Tibetan Buddhist history and is one of the six holiest sites for pilgrimage. Threats to the site include shrinking glaciers and retreating snow lines caused by global warming, with decreasing water supplies. Ramsar site No. 1436. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Honghe National Nature Reserve. 11/01/02; Heilongjiang; 21,836 ha; 47°49'N 133°40'E. National Nature Reserve. A near-natural marsh ecosystem with a large variety of wetland types, providing support for six endangered and rare species of flora and three of avifauna. The Reserve is the main breeding site for the Oriental stork (Ciconia ciconia), with 200 individuals in autumn, as well as for Black stork, Red-crowned and White-napped cranes, Whooper swan, and Mandarin duck. State-owned farms cultivate rice in the area. Overuse of groundwater and intensive agriculture are viewed as potential threats and a plan to regulate water supplies with a sluice dam has been put forward. Ramsar site no. 1149. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Huidong Harbor Sea Turtle National Nature Reserve. 11/01/02; Guangdong; 400 ha; 22°33'N 114°54'E. National Nature Reserve. At the juncture of Daya Bay and Honghai Bay in the South China Sea, presently the only sea turtle protected area in China, with seawater and gently-sloping sandy beaches still in good environmental quality and eminently suitable for sea turtles, which have traditionally been regarded as a divine species and symbol of longevity and good luck in the region. The beach, 1,000m long and 70m wide, surrounded by mountains on the three landward sides, supports as many as 400-500 Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas), an IUCN Red List endangered species, during egg-laying. The area is under collective ownership, and the site has been delimited as a fishery protected area by local government - since it received Reserve status in 1992, fishery stocks have benefited. It is felt that the boundaries of the present Reserve, demarcated in 1986, are somewhat too restricted for its conservation purposes, and efforts are being made to expand it. Artificial incubation and breeding ponds have been established to assist young turtles when adverse conditions, such as bad weather, warrant. Ramsar site no. 1150. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Lashihai Wetland. 07/12/04; Yunnan; 3560 ha; 26º53'N 100º08'E. Provincial Nature Reserve. A unique plateau freshwater lake with marsh meadows, located between 2,440 and 3,100 meters above sea level at the headwaters of the Yangtze River in the Hengduan Mountains. It is an important migration passage, breeding ground and wintering habitat of nearly 76 species of wild geese and ducks, e.g. Anas crecca, Fulica atra, and Aythya fuligula. The water outlet of the lake is connected to the Jinsha River with major hydrological functions of flood control, storage and water balance in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It also supplies drinking water to Lijian City, a famous World Heritage cultural property. As a biodiversity 'hotspot', Lashihai attracts 200-300 tourists daily particularly for birdwatching and horse-riding; major protection measures include a ban on and inspection of fishing, poaching and hunting, but a potential threat for the lake ecosystem is increasing unplanned tourism. Ramsar Site No. 1437. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Maidika. 07/12/04; Tibet Autonomous Region; 43,496 ha; 31°08'N, 093°00'E. A vast swamp meadow above 4,900 meters, with permanent and seasonal pools and lakes in the headwater region of the Maidicangbu, a tributary stream of the Lhasa River. The site, one of the "highest altitude wetlands with the coexistence of man and nature", performs major hydrological functions like control of soil erosion, prevention of seasonal floods, interception of sediment from the upper stream and formation of a productive wetland with meadows and swamps. Maidika plays a critical role as a staging and breeding habitat for migratory waterfowl, including rare endangered Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis, Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea, and Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus, harbouring about 6,000-10,000 migratory birds every year. Plant species are not abundant because of the high altitude climate conditions, giving space for fragile grasses belonging to aster and bean families to grow. The lands are mostly state-owned and partly contracted to local Tibetans as pastures for increasing numbers of livestock each year. Ramsar site No.1438. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Mai Po Marshes & Inner Deep Bay. 04/09/95; New Territories, Hong Kong; 1,540 ha; 22º29’N 114º02’E. Restricted Area; Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK); Water Quality Control Zone; Shorebird Network Site. First designated as a Ramsar site by the United Kingdom, transferred to China in 1997. A shallow coastal bay with extensive intertidal mudflats backed by dwarf mangroves, shrimp and fishponds. Thirteen globally threatened species of birds and 17 species of invertebrates new to science are present. An important area for internationally important numbers of wintering and migrating waterbirds, the site regularly holds over 1% of the global population of at least three species of birds. Human activities include research, conservation education, fish farming and recreation. Ramsar site no. 750. Most recent RIS information: 2005.

Mapangyong Cuo. 07/12/04; Tibet Autonomous Region; 73,782 hectares; 30°44' N 081°19'E. A high-altitude wetland of the Tibetan plateau (4,500-6,500m asl) covering Mapangyong and Laang Lakes with surrounding swamps and rivers, "one of the highest elevation freshwater wetlands in the world" and a source of the Yalu Tsangpo/Brahmaputra River. It is a spawning and survival habitat for Tibetan plateau endemic fish species Schizopygopsis microcephalus and Triplophysa stewarti and supports large populations of Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis and the chiru or Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsoni, amongst others. Vegetation is dominated by subalpine desert grasslands like Stipa glareosa with alpine meadow composed of Stipa purpurea, Carex moorcroftii, Poa annua and Caragana versicolor distributed between 4,700-5,000m asl. The lake, situated beside the holy mountain Kang Rinpoche, is a holy place in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and "Black Buddhism" and attracts hundreds of devotees and tourists every year. Local herdmen use the surrounding wetlands for grazing. Ramsar site No. 1439. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Nan Dongting Wetland and Waterfowl Reserve. 11/01/02; Hunan; 168,000 ha; 28°50'N 112°40'E. Nature Reserve. Located in the southern part of Dongting Lake, the largest lake on the plains of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, the site supports important numbers of endangered Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana) and Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus), as well as Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), and produces rich fauna and flora of high economic value. It also plays an important role in the regulation and storage of flood water from the Yangtze. Some 14,000 people live within the site, chiefly practicing fishing and aquaculture in human-made ponds and growing economic crops in the mudflat areas, including some 120,000 tons of reeds annually. Deforestation in the upper reaches of the Yangtze is leading to increased flow of mud and sand into the lake bed, and pesticide runoff and industrial pollution are also seen as potential threats. During "Bird Loving Week" activities are carried out for schoolchildren in the region, and some 24,000 birdwatchers visit the site's facilities annually. Ramsar site no. 1151. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Napahai Wetland. 07/12/04; Yunnan; 2,083 ha; 27º51'N 099º38´E. Provincial Nature Reserve. A seasonal karst marsh composed of meadow, open water, peatlands, and surrounding forests situated at about 3,260m above sea level, with lake outflow through karst caves draining underground into the Jinsha River in the upper reaches of the Yangtze. It is an important wintering site and staging post for numerous valuable, rare and endangered wintering birds, especially the Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis, Black Stork Ciconia nigra, and White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla. The region is economically very poor, but in recent years sightseeing and birdwatching have brought significant economic and social benefits, and it is felt that conservation-based ecotourism will benefit the protection of the ecosystems. Overgrazing and logging in the surrounding area are seen as potential threats. An "awareness education and publicity" project has been proposed to build wildlife rescue stations and a centre for awareness education, publicity and exhibition for nature conservation. Ramsar site no. 1440. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Niaodao ("Bird Island"). 31/03/92; Qinghai; 53,600 ha; 36º50’N 100º10’E. Nature Reserve. The lake, centered on an island, is fed by two rivers and numerous smaller rivers originating from mountain snow melt. Marshes are both brackish and fresh, along which a rich alpine meadow community thrives. The site is extremely important for numerous species of breeding birds, wintering Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans, etc.), and for staging waterbirds in spring and autumn. Human activities include livestock grazing, fishing, and tourism. Ramsar site no. 552. Most recent RIS information: 1997.

Poyanghu. 31/03/92; Jiangxi; 22,400 ha; 29º10’N 115º59’E. Nature Reserve; Crane Network Site. A large freshwater lake subject to seasonal fluctuations, within a region of subtropical, deciduous broad-leaved and evergreen forest surrounded by marshes and wet grassland fed by five major rivers. The site supports numerous species of plankton, mollusc, fish, and mammals and at least 46 species of birds. It is important for wintering and staging birds and for a population of 20,000 people whose activities include grazing water buffalo, harvesting grass and aquatic vegetation, small-scale cultivation, fishing and a freshwater pearl industry. Wildlife tourism is increasing rapidly. Ramsar site no. 550. Most recent RIS information: 1997.

San Jiang National Nature Reserve. 11/01/02; Heilongjiang; 164,400 ha; 47°56'N 134°20'E. National Nature Reserve. An alluvial floodplain typical of high-altitude wetlands, a mixture of rivers, open bogs, seasonally flooded meadows, and sedge marshes, the largest area of freshwater wetland in the country. The site is internationally important for waterbirds, particularly ducks, and for fishery resources, and serves as a natural reservoir for the San Jiang Plains, providing vital flood control as well. Due to its remote location and cold winters, human interference has been minimal, though local inhabitants, including 300-400 people of the He Zhe (one of the smallest ethnic groups in China) who support a unique cultural, find abundant animal, fish, and forest resources. Overfishing with small mesh nets and other human effects are seen as potential threats, but rational ecotourism, especially in cooperation with nearby Russia, holds promise. Ramsar site no. 1152. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve. 11/01/02; Guangxi; 4,000 ha; 21°28'N 109°43'E. Nature Reserve. Two related areas on either side of the Shatian Peninsula on the Beibu Gulf at the border between Guangzi and Guangdong provinces in the southwest of China, where salt marsh and mangrove forest form a protective barrier for the coastal farmlands and villages. Some 14 species of mangrove are represented, principally Rhizophora stylosa and Avicennia marina, and provide support for a number of vulnerable and endangered species, including Dugong dugon and Chinese dolphin Sotalia sinensis, as well as for a large number of nationally protected bird species. Shrimp culture and improper hunting create pressures, but a management plan is entering implementation. Ramsar site no. 1153. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Shuangtai Estuary. 07/12/04; Liaoning; 128,000 ha; 41º00'N, 121º47'E. National Nature Reserve. The estuary of the Liao River at Liaodong Bay in northeastern China, the site includes "the essential part of the world's largest reed marsh (Phragmites communis)", a large area of Suaeda community, and shallow sea. The site, which meets all eight of the Ramsar Criteria, provides flood control and prevention, maintains groundwater recharge, and retains 10.4 million tons of nutrients and sediment each year, helping to prevent coastal water eutrophication. It provides important habitat for resting and breeding of 400,000 waterbirds of 106 species, including endangered Grus japonensis, G. leucogeranus, and Larus saundersi. The site provides seasonal occupation for 20,000 people for reed irrigation and harvest, oil exploration facility checking, agriculture and aquaculture. Conservation measures include environmental awareness and education for protection of birds. Ramsar site no. 1441. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Xi Dongting Lake (Mupinghu) Nature Reserve. 11/01/02; Hunan; 35,000 ha; 29°01'N 112°05'E. Nature Reserve. The important western part of Dongting Lake, comprising open freshwater lake and smaller lakes, some shallow mudflats during low water periods, reed swamp, sphagnum bog, and beaches. The site is very important for rare fish, such as Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), and birds, such as the threatened Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana); in addition it serves as a staging area for many other migrating cranes and storks. Fishing, and increasingly fish-breeding, and livestock grazing are important economic activities dependent upon the site. Industrial pollution, unwise fishing practices, and overproduction of reeds are seen as threats. Conservation research and education, with assistance from WWF, are increasingly important. Because of the extraordinary beauty of the site, with its "deeply green grass and dancing water birds", an increase in ecotourism is being planned for. Ramsar site no. 1154. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Xingkai Lake National Nature Reserve. 11/01/02; Heilongjiang; 222,488 ha; 45°17'N 132°32'E. National Nature Reserve. A complex wetland system including grassland, marshes, lakes, and forests, contiguous with Russia to the south across the Songacha River. The site, at the northern end of the large lake, provides important breeding habitat for a number of bird species protected in China, and some 65 fish species and more than 460 higher plant species are present. A transboundary nature reserve agreement (including joint training) was established in 1992 with the Khank Nature Reserve in Russia, with the help of the International Crane Foundation, and another in 1996 for management of the whole Xingkai Lake. The reserve joined the North East Asian Crane Site Network in 1997. Four ecotourism resorts drew 500,000 visitors from China and abroad in 2000. Ramsar site no. 1155. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Xianghai. 31/03/92; Jilin; 105,467 ha; 44º02’N 122º41’E. Nature Reserve; Crane Network Site. A system of freshwater marshes, lakes, wet grassland and a linked series of irrigation canals, fed by three major rivers. The site includes sand dunes, plantations, cultivated land and reservoirs subject to spring flooding. At least 30 species of mammals are found here and the area is important for breeding, wintering and staging waterbirds. 15,000 permanent inhabitants cultivate various crops, raise livestock and, in winter, cut reeds for the paper industry. Ramsar site no. 548. Most recent RIS information: 1997.

Yancheng National Nature Reserve. 11/01/02; Jiangsu; 453,000 ha; 33°31'N 120°22'E. National Nature Reserve. Comprises the largest coastal wetland in China, expansive mudflats along over 120 kilometres of coastline which supports high biodiversity. About 3 million individuals of 200 bird species are said to migrate through the site annually, and many, particularly Anatidae, winter there. The site provides one of the two largest habitats in China for the Pere David's or Water deer (Elaphurus davidianus), known as "Milu", and is said to support about 10% of the world population of Black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor). The core areas are uninhabited and in natural condition, whereas the buffer and experimental zones include rice fields, fish and shrimp ponds, with about one million people living in and near the site. The site is owned by Yancheng City: the Reserve management has managerial rights over the core area, whilst local governments have managerial rights over the buffer zones, within agreed parameters. Ramsar site no. 1156. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Zhaling Lake. 07/12/04. Qinghai; 64,920 ha; 34º55'N 097º16'E. Nature Reserve. A unique plateau freshwater wetland at high altitude (4,273m asl) with marsh meadow and alpine vegetations, with the second largest lake in the sources of the Yellow River. As the lake is nutriet-poor and cold, only adaptive fish forms such as Gymnocypris eckloni, Platypharodon extremus, Chuanchia labiosa, and Gymnodiptychus pachycheilu are developed, which gives the site a high level of fish endemism. The conservation targets for the wetland include 22 nationally protected species, e.g. Grus nigricollis, Aquila chrysaetos, and Gypaetus barbatus. The swamp area is a breeding and roosting habitat of other common waterbirds such as Tadorna Ferruginea, Larus brunnicephalus, Larus ichthyaetus, Phalacrocorax carbo, and Anser indicus. Local Tibetan people have created distinctive plateau culture, religion, and folk customs which attract scientists, explorers and travelers every year despite limited tourism facilities so far. Pasture lands around the lake are contracted to the local herdsmen, about 1,800 in number. Following a sharp decline of natural fish stock due to over-harvesting in the late 1980s, the exhausted stock was replenished through adoption of a local conservation plan that prevented over-fishing. However, the main threats remain with over-grazing in the pastures and desertification. Ramsar site no. 1442. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Zhalong. 31/03/92; Heilongjiang; 210,000 ha; 47º12’N 124º12’E. Nature Reserve. A system of permanent and seasonally flooded freshwater marshes, shallow lakes and ponds, with extensive reedbeds and grasslands. An important area for breeding, wintering, and staging migratory birds, supporting a flora of more than 500 species, 42 species of fish, and numerous amphibians. Reed harvesting provides a major source of income. Ramsar site no. 549. Most recent RIS information: 1997.Most recent RIS information: 1997.

Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve. 11/01/02; Guangdong; 20,279 ha; 20°54'N 110°08'E. National Nature Reserve. The largest mangrove forest wetland reserve in China, located along coastal areas of the Leizhou Peninsula at the southernmost tip of China between the South China Sea and the Tonkin Gulf, adjacent to Hainan Island. Some 24 species of mangrove are said to be present, and at low tide large areas of exposed mudflats provide excellent support for migrating waterbirds. Like other mangrove forests, the somewhat separate components of the site provide sanctuary for offshore fish, sustenance for birds and other fauna, and coastal protection from waves, tides, and storm surges. The coastal and inshore area supports economic fishing and aquaculture for local people. Agricultural and urban development and fishfarming have destroyed much of the former mangrove areas, but a comprehensive management and afforestation programme for the Reserve, supported by The Netherlands, holds promise for arresting these impacts. Ocean pollution of oil and heavy metal has been taking a toll. Ramsar site no. 1157. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 12 January 2000, updated 26 January 2005, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.