Chongming Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve

Chongming Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve

The Chongming Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve and a science education base.

The Chongming Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve is a wetland-type nature reserve primarily focused on protecting migratory birds. Situated at the mouth of the Yangtze River on the easternmost tip of Chongming Island — China’s third-largest island — it was formed by the large amounts of silt deposited by the Yangtze River. It is the largest and most well-developed estuarine tidal flat wetland in the Yangtze Estuary area. The reserve is long from north to south and wide from east to west, with a dense network of tidal creeks and clearly defined zones of high, middle, and low tidal flats. It serves as an important migratory corridor for waterbirds in the Asia-Pacific region.

The reserve covers an area of 241.55 square kilometers, accounting for about 7.8% of Shanghai’s total wetland area, and is divided into three sections: the core zone, buffer zone, and experimental zone. Chongming Dongtan has a subtropical climate and lies within the area strongly influenced by the East Asian monsoon. The average annual temperature is 15.3°C. In winter, due to the heat retention effect from being surrounded by water on three sides, temperatures here are about 1°C higher than in the western part of Chongming Island. The water bodies do not freeze, which is highly favorable for waterfowl overwintering. As a result, it has become an important “stopover” on the migratory route for birds in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as a key breeding and overwintering ground for waterfowl. It is also an ideal site for research on estuarine science, drawing attention both domestically and internationally.

The reserve is located at the intersection of ocean, river, land, and island, resulting in extremely complex and unique biodiversity. Although the tidal flat vegetation is relatively simple, mainly consisting of reeds, cordgrass, and seashore mallow, its high productivity plays a vital role in the sedimentation of the tidal flats and creates a favorable habitat for other organisms, supporting 70%–80% of Shanghai’s species. To date, 290 bird species from 50 families and 17 orders have been recorded in Chongming Dongtan. Among them, 20 species are listed in the China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals; 156 species and 54 species are included in the China-Japan and China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreements, respectively; and at least 12 species of wading birds account for more than 1% of their global population. Each year, over one million migratory and overwintering waterbirds pass through Chongming Dongtan, including four national first-class protected species: the Oriental White Stork, Black Stork, Siberian Crane, and White-tailed Sea Eagle. There are also 35 national second-class protected animals, such as the Black-faced Spoonbill, Tundra Swan, Common Crane, Mandarin Duck, Little Curlew, and Lesser Sand Plover. The main bird groups in Chongming Dongtan include four types: shorebirds, ducks and geese, cranes, and gulls.

According to over ten years of surveys, especially the three consecutive years of research on northbound shorebirds and overwintering waterfowl from 1996 to 1998, Chongming Dongtan is an important stopover on the migratory route for birds. It is also a crucial overwintering site for rare waterfowl such as the Siberian Crane and Tundra Swan. The Siberian Crane, a national first-class protected bird, has chosen Chongming Dongtan as its overwintering site for over a decade, with a population reaching more than 130 individuals.

Chongming Dongtan is also a vital migratory passage for various species that undertake annual upstream and downstream migrations. Among the existing 10 mammal species, 73 fish species, and 31 crustacean species, many important ones — such as the nationally first-class protected wildlife Baiji Dolphin and Chinese Sturgeon, economically valuable species like the Chinese Mitten Crab, and the so-called “soft gold” known as eel fry — along with numerous other economically important animals like mud snails, Japanese marsh shrimp, and clams, all rely on this unique aquatic environment for essential life activities such as foraging, breeding, and juvenile growth. Species identified in Chongming Dongtan also include 16 amphibians and reptiles, 21 mollusks, 13 annelids, and 73 insects.

Key Events in the Reserve’s History:

In 1992, the “China Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan” developed by 10 ministries under the State Council included Chongming Dongtan in the priority conservation list.

In 1998, the reserve was officially established with the approval of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

In April 1999, the Reserve Management Office was formally set up and is now under the administration of the Shanghai Greening and Urban Management Bureau (Shanghai Forestry Bureau).

In July 1999, Chongming Dongtan was admitted as a member of the “East Asian – Australasian Flyway Shorebird Site Network” by Wetlands International – Asia Pacific.

In January 2002, the reserve and the adjacent 84 square kilometers of artificial wetlands were designated as internationally important wetlands.

In July 2005, it was promoted to a national nature reserve with the approval of the State Council.

In November 2005, among the 12 regions awarded the title of “China’s Home of Birds” by the China Wildlife Conservation Association, Chongming was honored as the “Hometown of the Siberian Crane.”

In October 2006, it was listed among the first batch of 51 national demonstration nature reserves, authorized by the State Forestry Administration.