The Green Development of Beijing Yeyahu Lake Creates Ecological Beauty
Beijing Yeyahu Lake Wetland Reserve, with a total area of 6873 hectares and a water surface area of 3939 hectares, is the transit station of the global bird migration route "East Asia-Australia route", which represents the protection process and achievements of the water environment in Yanqing.
According to statistics, various aquatic, hygrophytic, and terrestrial plants are distributed in Beijing Yeyahu Lake Wetland Reserve. There are 472 species of higher plants, 40 species of fish, 5 species of amphibians, and 8 species of reptiles.
Lake sparking in the sunlight with breeds blowing in the wind [Photo by Zhang Shunyan]
In 2008, Beijing Yeyahu Lake Wetland Reserve implemented a major scientific and technological project of Beijing Municipal Science & Technology commission，"Technology for Wetland Biodiversity Conservation in Beijing", which made the wetland reappear a vibrant scene and diversified zonal distribution of different wetland plant communities, attracting many wild birds to settle in.
In 1997, Beijing Yeyahu Lake Wetland Reserve became a county-level nature reserve. The staff of this reserve, together with related organizations, installed protective ditches, fences, and other facilities in the core area of Beijing Yeyahu Lake Wetland Reserve, and mobilized fishermen to go ashore and remove the illegal construction near the lake. The villagers in the core area also began to move, thus the ecological environment pressure around Beijing Yeyahu Lake was effectively alleviated.
Landscape of lakes and hills inhabited by millions of birds [Photo by Sui Guoyong]
In 2000, Beijing Yeyahu Lake County-level wetland nature reserve was upgraded to the municipal-level wetland nature reserve. In 2006, with the approval of the China National Forestry Administration, Beijing Yeyahu National Wetland Park was built in the experimental area of the reserve. From 2008 to 2009, Beijing Yeyahu lake resort implemented the wetland protection project of the China National Forestry Administration and the ecological environment protection education project of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Environmental Protection, restoring 300 mu of grassland habitat and 165 mu of wetland habitat.
In 2010, Yanqing implemented the demonstration project of wetland protection and restoration in Beijing Yeyahu Lake Wetland Reserve. In 2018, a 3900 square meter subsurface flow constructed wetland was built in the reserve. In the same year, a wetland observation station was completed in the reserve. Beijing Yeyahu Lake Wetland Reserve has formed a complete closed-loop development from scientific research to wetland protection to the exhibition.
Wetland ecological protection is a cause that needs the participation of the whole people. At the same time, Biodiversity and wetland protection plays an important part in it. Beijing Yeyahu Lake Wetland Reserve also acts as a propaganda station to show the effectiveness of wetland protection to the outside world and publicize the importance and feasibility of wetland protection.
Since the establishment of the county-level nature reserve, Beijing Yeyahu Lake Wetland Reserve has undertaken the task of publicizing the importance of wetland protection to the public and tourists. In 2013, Beijing Yeyahu Lake resort was listed as the first National Wetland Park in Beijing. In the same year, it was approved as a national AAAA scenic spot by the China National Tourism Administration, and the first batch of national tourism ecological demonstration areas approved by the China National Tourism Administration and Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China. According to statistics, in the past five years, nearly one million people have entered the wetland park to feel the charm of ecological wetlands.
"In the next step, we will combine wetland protection and restoration with "Green Beijing" construction featuring scientific, realistic, and innovative ideas. We will grasp the opportunity of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing to cultivate Beijing Yeyahu Lake ice and snow tourism projects such as ice and snow marathon. At the same time, we will work with the Guanting reservoir to protect the wetland ecosystem and wild animal and plant resources, so that the Beijing Yeyahu Lake resort will be more famous." Beijing Yeyahu Lake Wetland Reserve related person in charge said. (Zhang Hongmin)