The Yangtze finless porpoise, a species under first-class state protection, once faced a severe population decline due to habitat loss, pollution, and overfishing. However, concerted efforts to protect the Yangtze River, the longest in Asia, have transformed the fortunes of the only aquatic mammal in the river.
Ding Zeliang, a porpoise breeder at a national nature reserve in central China's Hubei Province, has witnessed the turnaround firsthand. "The water is cleaner now, and there are more fish," he noted. "It's the perfect environment for the porpoises to thrive."
Chinese President Xi Jinping's commitment to environmental protection has been instrumental in driving the Yangtze River's biodiversity recovery. Under Xi's guidance, the country has implemented a series of measures to improve the ecosystem, including the establishment of protected areas.
A crucial turning point was the implementation of a 10-year fishing ban in key waters of the Yangtze River Basin, which began on January 1, 2021. These actions have contributed to a significant improvement in water quality and biodiversity.
As the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity takes place from October 21 to November 2 in Colombia, watch the video to follow a Yangtze finless porpoise's journey back to its beloved home. (CGTN)
A team of researchers from Michigan State University and Chinese Academy of Sciences are advancing new modeling technology to quantify human dependence on nature, human well-being, and relationships between the two. The latest step is published in this week's Ecosystem Health and Sustainability journal.
Modern biotechnological tools, including metabarcoding and environmental DNA, have potential to contribute to conservation. Prof. Richard Corlett at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences reviewed current trends in the application of biotechnology in conservation. He aimed to inform biotechnologists of conservation needs and concerns and show conservationists what biotechnology has to offer.
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