China: Pro-environment sacrifices to reap bigger gains

Published Dec 25, 2020

Tridge summary

In China, efforts are underway to support over 100 species of migratory birds by leaving unreaped rice and other crops around Poyang Lake. Local authorities and wildlife conservationists have collaborated to leave 66.7 hectares of rice and other crops unharvested, and have compensated farmers for their lost harvests. This initiative aims to address the food shortage for these birds, which was exacerbated by summer floods affecting aquatic plant growth. The strategy has been successful, with over 350,000 migratory birds, including endangered species like the oriental stork, white crane, and Baer's pochard, flocking to the area.

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Original content

NANCHANG -- Although the winter solstice has passed, rice ears hanging down from the stems are visible in farmlands by the Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, which has become a winter haven for over 100 species of migratory birds.In addition to 66.7 hectares of unreaped rice, 33 hectares of lotus root fields and gorgon fruit farms by the lake have been left unharvested this year, as local authorities and wildlife conservationists joined efforts to increase the food stock for wild waterfowl wintering in the lake area."The severe summer floods have affected the growth of aquatic plants on which the birds wintering in the lake depend for food," said Sun Zhiyong, an expert from the Institute of Zoology in East China's Jiangxi province, where the lake is located.Foreseeing the food shortage for the migratory birds in winter, local departments of agriculture and forestry have reached agreements with 16 households living by the lake to leave their rice unharvested as part of ...

Source: Chinadaily