Ningbo township wins national recognition for biodiversity conservation

Longguan township in Ningbo's Haishu district is honored as China's first biodiversity-friendly township by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, on June 30. [Photo/Ningbo Daily] 

The Longguan township in Ningbo's Haishu district was designated as China's first biodiversity-friendly township by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on June 30.

The title was conferred to the township during an event held in Meishan Bay in Ningbo's Beilun district to mark the 12th Zhejiang Ecological Day.

Located at the foot of Siming Mountain, Longguan town has rich biological resources and a forest coverage rate of 86 percent. It is home to some species under State protection, including the Isoetes sinensis and the hooded crane.

Last October, the town was invited to attend the NGO parallel forum of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) held in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan province.

It was the only town from East China's Zhejiang province invited to attend the forum.

In May 2021, the Haishu government started construction on a biodiversity experience base in Longguan township. The base is the largest of its kind in Zhejiang.

The government has also reached a strategic cooperative agreement with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment to launch projects related to biodiversity in the township.

Ningbo has in recent years made great efforts to protect its biodiversity. The city currently has 28 nature reserves at provincial level or above that span a combined 1,104 square kilometers.

In addition, the city has set up 19 natural protection zones for wild animals and plants in typical ecological areas.

According to the head official of the Ningbo municipal bureau of ecology and environment, the local government plans to turn Wulongtan, a national-level 4A scenic spot located in Longguan township, into the nation's first biodiversity friendly scenic spot, and organize more activities such as summer camps to get more young people involved in biodiversity protection.