#WetlandsForOurCommonFuture: Implementing the Two Mountains Concept and Protecting Wetland Resources

by Prof. Yang JIANCHU, Dean, Institution of ‘Two Mountains’ Theory at Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
Dedicated to: #WorldWetlandsDay ##WetlandConservation (2 February)
#ActForWetlands | #SDG6 | #SDG15 | #OurCommonFuture

Wetlands: Kidney of Earth
“Wetlands have powerful functions of degrading pollution and purifying water quality, and are known as the “kidneys of the earth”. Wetlands absorb and transform pollutants discharged into wetlands through physical processes such as sedimentation, adsorption, and dilution, and biochemical processes such as absorption, synthesis, and decomposition of wetland animals, plants, and microorganisms.”
– The wall text at the National Wetland Museum in Hangzou, China.

Implementing the Two Mountains Concept and Protecting Wetland Resources

[LMGlobal.Org] February 2nd this year is the 29th World Wetlands Day, with the theme of “Protecting Wetlands and Building the Future Together“. Huzhou City is one of the cities in Zhejiang Province with the richest wetland types, covering a total area of 717000 acres (excluding rice paddies), and is known as the best preserved original ecological wetland in the Yangtze River Delta. For many years, Huzhou has earnestly practiced the concept of “green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver“, deeply promoted the construction of ecological civilization, scientifically protected and restored wetlands, and achieved good results.

One is to combine artificial restoration with natural restoration to improve wetland ecosystems. Orderly implementation of returning farmland to forests, grasslands, and wetlands, and restoration of aquatic plant communities. Strengthen the construction and management of ecological protection forests and water source conservation forests, and improve the ecological environment and functions of wetlands, such as investing nearly 10 million yuan annually in the upstream of the Laohutan Reservoir wetland to implement ecological public welfare forest protection. Consciously establish ecological protection red lines “leave blank spaces” and “increase greenery” in development. Promote the river chief system and forest chief system to promote protection, scientifically carry out land greening actions, and ecological restoration of abandoned mines.

There are currently 2 national wetland parks and 5 provincial wetland parks in the city; Announce 85 important wetlands at or above the county level…

The second is to strengthen the construction and protection of nature reserves and enhance biodiversity. There are currently 2 national wetland parks and 5 provincial wetland parks in the city; Announce 85 important wetlands at or above the county level, including 8 provincial-level important wetlands. Carry out habitat protection and population restoration of rare and endangered species, and promote wetland conservation and ecological restoration. Construct 46 long-term monitoring sites for biodiversity in nature reserves, and comprehensively and systematically monitor the richness of biodiversity in our city.

Deqing County relies on the Xiazhu Lake wetland to carry out the reconstruction project of the crested ibis population in Zhejiang Province. The number of Yangtze alligators in Changxing County’s Yangtze Alligator Provincial Nature Reserve has grown from the initial 11 to over 9000 currently. Approximately 1600 adult Anji Chinese giant salamanders have been released into the Anji National Nature Reserve in Zhejiang Province.

In recent years, many nationally protected animals such as the Chinese merry, Oriental white stork, black stork, mandarin duck, and white spoonbill have overwintered in the wetlands of Huzhou, and their numbers have been increasing year by year.

The third is to form a “protection utilization improvement” model, which generates significant comprehensive benefits. Relying on abundant wetland resources, water, scenery, culture, tourism, and science popularization are organically combined. The ecological, social, and economic benefits of wetland parks such as Xishanyang City Wetland Park, Deqing Xiazhu Lake National Wetland Park, and Changxing Xianshan Lake National Wetland Park in Wuxing District have been synchronously improved, achieving effective protection and sustainable utilization of wetland resources, and becoming a vivid portrayal of “green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver“.

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“As vital natural resources, wetlands are always playing a pivotal role in sustaining the natural ecological balance, protecting biodiversity, conserving water resources, regulating the climate, protecting the shores against wind, promoting scientific research and preserving cultural heritage. In addition, wetlands provide numerous products and services that are essential to production and daily life, containing tremendous productivity and considerable socioeconomic value. In summary, wetlands contribute most generously to the survival, reproduction and development of the human race.“

World Wetlands Day – Background – 2 February:
World Wetlands Day 2025 is promoting three key messages:
• Protecting the world’s wetlands is in our common interest – it safeguards us all.
• The future of humanity depends on bold action today to protect and restore these indispensable ecosystems.
• The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (COP15), 23-31 July 2025, will unites the global effort to promote wetland conservation and ensure the continuity of their benefits.
Source: https://www.unwater.org/news/world-wetlands-day-2025

The three wall-texts in this page along with photos are taken from a visit to the National Wetland Museum in Hangzou, China with Prof. Yang Jianchu on November 29, 2024. – Bircan Ünver, LMGlobal.Org

“As a unique ecosystem on Earth, wetlands were born with a magnificent and changeful prospect. Driven by the general circulation of the atmosphere, water and material cycles, and ecological processes, wetlands have been formed under the combined actions of complicated geological, meteorological, hydrological, biological, and biogeochemical processes. They are also evolving under the influence of these cycles and human activities.”

Photo Credits: Bircan Ünver, Prof. Yang Jianchu, Wang (Wayne) Junzhan

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The Light Millennium Global and the Institution of ‘Two Mountains’ Theory of Huzhou University jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Huzhou University to collaborate on the “Two Mountains Theory” along with Ecological Civilizations concepts on November 27, 2024, – Bircan Ünver, LMGlobal.Org

UN World Wetlands Day: https://www.unwater.org/news/world-wetlands-day-2025

©2025, The Light Millennium Global – www.lmglobal.org