Ningbo makes strides in biodiversity conservation

Wild birds are observed in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

Ningbo has been invited to showcase its achievements in biodiversity conservation at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which kicked off on Oct 11 in Kunming, Yunnan's provincial capital.

As a coastal city, Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province boasts rich living marine resources, including 440 species of fish, 121 species of shrimps and 240 species of crabs.

The coastal county of Xiangshan in Ningbo is the largest breeding site for Chinese crested terns in the world. The bird is classed as "critically endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Due to the sustained efforts made by the local government to protect rare wildlife, the number of Chinese crested terns in the world has grown from less than 50 to nearly 150.

In addition, the city has established various levels of nature reserves so as to leave enough living space for biological diversity. To date, it has built 28 natural reserves at or above provincial level.

The city's forests covers 6.65 million mu (443,333 hectares), accounting for nearly 48 percent of its total area. 

Ningbo is home to 2,183 species of plants and 546 species of terrestrial vertebrates. Fifty-one species of wild plants and 79 species of wild animals from the city have been put under State key protection.