Shanghai's Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve is a vital stopover along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway migration route. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The United Nations Development Programme has been implementing projects at Shanghai's Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve, aiming to provide eco-friendly solutions at one of Asia's premier bird sanctuaries.
In an initiative, the program has partnered with the private sector to integrate solar power with electric vehicles, establishing a sustainable patrol system at the reserve, which serves as a vital stopover along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway migration route.
"Our partnerships with NIO automobiles and Trina Solar have enabled the creation of a clean energy system that enhances protection while minimizing environmental impact," Leng Fei, UNDP BIOFIN national coordinator in China and project manager, said.
"This is a highly recommended way for the private sector to participate in conservation by the international community, and it aligns with the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework."
The reserve also hosts the UNDP-GEF Flyway project, which provides technical support to mainstream the flyway into the policies, and a project under UNDP's Biodiversity Finance Initiative exploring the financial solutions to provide support to the reserve.
"We try to complement China's substantial investment in habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation, serving as a bridge for international technical and financial support," Leng said.
Rangers and researchers now patrol in solar-powered electric vehicles, replacing conventional diesel models.
"The near-silent operation of electric vehicles enables closer wildlife observation without disturbance, particularly critical during migration periods," Niu Dongliang, director of the reserve's management center, said.
Shanghai's Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve is a vital stopover along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway migration route. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The initiative coincides with the population growth at the reserve. Situated at the Yangtze River estuary, Chongming Dongtan hosts 364 bird species, including 82 under national protection.
"We've seen extraordinary growth in numbers," Niu said. "For instance, we rarely saw Tundra Swans wintering here around 2004 due to invasive species. By 2023, we recorded over 2,900 individuals during peak season, with about 2,000 expected this year."
This revival follows years of strategic ecosystem management. In the early 2000s, the reserve tackled invasive smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) that threatened native vegetation and wildlife food chains. A 2013 restoration project transformed 24 square kilometers into optimal bird habitat, effectively controlling the invasive species.
The reserve employs a comprehensive monitoring system. Professional teams conduct 18 synchronized surveys annually. The reserve has also installed over 200 surveillance cameras monitoring 80 percent of the area, reducing human interference.
International collaboration remains critical to the reserve's approach, according to Niu. The site shares data and expertise with partners along the migration route, engaging with institutions such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK) and Australian waterbird research groups.
"Migratory birds are like diplomatic envoys, their presence here reflecting the coordinated conservation efforts of multiple countries along their migration route," Leng noted.
"We're not just protecting birds," she said. "We're demonstrating how conservation efforts can embrace green technology and sustainable practices, creating a replicable model for conservation worldwide."
