Jilin Tonghua Lagou River National Wetland Park

Jilin Tonghua Lagou River National Wetland Park

Jilin Tonghua Lagou River National Wetland Park is a national-level wetland park.

Tonghua Lagou River Wetland Park is situated in Sipeng Township and Yingebu Town in the northwest of Tonghua County. Its geographical coordinates are between 125°23′24″–125°37′02″ east longitude and 41°43′44″–41°55′50″ north latitude. The maximum north-south length of the wetland park is 22.8 km, and the maximum east-west width is 19.6 km. The total area of the wetland park is 2,055 hectares, including a section of the permanent Lagou River within the park spanning approximately 25.4 km with a catchment area of 84 hectares; forest swamp covers 53.2 hectares; shrub swamp covers 22.4 hectares. It is located 23 km from Tonghua County town.

The Lagou River Wetland Park is divided into 8 types, belonging to two major wetland systems: natural wetlands and artificial wetlands. These include permanent rivers, floodplain wetlands, forest swamp wetlands, shrub swamp wetlands, herbaceous swamp wetlands, reservoir and pond wetlands, pit pond wetlands, and rice paddy wetlands. The main soil types are gray brown soil, albic soil, meadow soil, alluvial soil, swamp soil, peat soil, paddy soil, stony soil, and limestone soil. The protected area of the Lagou River Wetland Park is home to 665 species of wild plants across 122 families and 4 phyla, among which 5 species are under national second-class protection: Korean pine, Phellodendron amurense, Manchurian linden, Manchurian ash, and wild soybean. The wetland park hosts wildlife from 6 classes, 33 orders, and 71 families, including 6 species under national second-class protection: otter, Siberian weasel, mandarin duck, Chinese egret, black kite, and hazel grouse. The plant composition mainly includes elements from Northeast–North China, temperate Asia, East Asia, and cosmopolitan species. For example, Northeast–North China elements include Manchurian linden and walnut; temperate Asia elements include elm and Acer mono; East Asia elements include Mongolian oak and Bupleurum longiradiatum; cosmopolitan species include Carex, Typha, and Potamogeton genera.

The wetland park protects the unique wetland and forest ecosystems within the region, ensuring the permanent preservation of rare, endangered, and scarce wildlife, as well as the recovery and growth of their populations. It safeguards bird habitats and ecological corridors, guiding the entire regional ecosystem onto a virtuous cycle. This ensures an adequate supply of drinking water with good quality to meet the needs of industrial and agricultural production. It serves as a comprehensive nature reserve integrating ecological protection, scientific research and education, public outreach, and eco-tourism. The park plays a crucial role in preserving the regional ecological environment and promoting the sustainable development of the regional economy, society, and natural surroundings. In line with the nature and future development strategy of the Jilin Tonghua Lagou River National Wetland Park, the park is zoned into five functional areas: wetland conservation zone, restoration and rehabilitation zone, environmental education and exhibition zone, rational use zone, and management service zone.

Since the establishment of the Tonghua Lagou River Wetland Park Protected Area, the Tonghua County Party Committee and County Government have placed high importance on its development. They approved the establishment of the Tonghua Lagou River Wetland Park Management Center, a county-level public institution with administrative and operational funding incorporated into the local fiscal budget, ensuring the smooth progress of all wetland park operations. The “Jilin Lagou River Wetland Park Protected Area Management Measures” were formulated and issued, with annual funding allocated to wetland park construction projects. Active research and monitoring work on wetland conservation science have been carried out, significantly improving the standards of construction and management. Currently, the landscapes on both sides of the dam in the Lagou River section have been completely renewed, the trend of reclaiming wetlands for farmland on both sides of the dam has been effectively curbed, forest resources have been well protected, wildlife populations have recovered and expanded, and the ecological awareness of surrounding communities and the general public has significantly increased. All work is gradually moving onto a legal and standardized healthy development track.

The construction of Tonghua Lagou River Wetland Park and the development of eco-tourism and other specialty industries are conducive to boosting the local tertiary industry and promoting regional economic growth. At the same time, through the construction of the wetland park, the functions of wetland resources—such as flood storage and drought relief, climate regulation, water purification, and enrichment of biodiversity—are fully leveraged to improve and maintain the overall regional environment, generating immeasurable indirect economic benefits. The ecological and social benefits are remarkable, and the economic value is also substantial.

Source: Jilin Provincial Forestry Department

Sipeng Township: Located in the northwest of Tonghua County town, Sipeng Township borders Ermi to the east, touches Liuhe County to the north, neighbors Jindou Township to the south, and is adjacent to Sankeshuyu to the west. Transportation within the township is well-developed. A main road runs through the entire township, connecting to the Tongmei First-Class Highway to the east and the Tongshen Line to the south. The township covers an area of 277.1 square kilometers, comprising nine administrative villages, 23 natural hamlets, 48 residential groups, 2,355 households, and a population of 10,480. There are 26,326 mu of arable land and 19,000 hectares of forested area. Specialty and cash crop fields account for 38% of the arable land. The per capita income last year was 3,266 yuan, … More detailed information about Sipeng Township ++