7 Chinese cities accredited as int'l wetland cities

Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Wuhan of central China's Hubei Province as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. [Xinhua/Lian Yi]

GENEVA -- Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities.

An accreditation ceremony was held during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The other 18 cities are from Canada, France, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Morocco, South Korea, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain and Thailand.

Of the seven Chinese cities, Hefei of the eastern Anhui Province has five national wetland parks and three provincial wetland parks, with a wetland protection rate of 75 percent, the highest within the province.

Jining of east China's coastal Shandong Province has 32 wetland towns, 56 wetland villages and 124 micro-wetlands.

Liangping of Chongqing Municipality is the only wetland city in southwestern China, with more than 400 model micro-wetlands featuring organic industries, local guesthouses and ecological tourism.

Nanchang of east China's Jiangxi Province has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks.

Panjin, located at the mouth of the Liaohe River in the northeastern Liaoning Province, is an important transit location and destination for migratory birds of the East Asian-Australasia flyway, as well as a breeding ground for the largest population of saunders's gulls in the world.

Wuhan of Hubei Province is a megacity with the most abundant wetland resources in inland China, and also a typical example of lake-type wetlands at the same latitude worldwide as well as the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Yancheng of east China's Jiangsu Province has two wetlands of international importance as well as China's first World Natural Heritage site of coastal wetlands.

In her speech at the accreditation, Musonda Mumba, secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, congratulated the newly certified wetland cities and recalled her visit to Wuhan, also the host city of COP14. "I always have beautiful memories of Wuhan," she said.

At the ceremony, Wuhan Vice Mayor Yang Zefa attributed Wuhan's accreditation not only to myriad wetlands within the city boundary, but to its practice of the notion of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," which stresses ecological protection and restoration of water bodies, and the harmonious coexistence of people, nature and the city.

On the list of all the 43 international wetland cities worldwide are 13 Chinese cities, making China a country with most such cities. The other six Chinese cities that have shared the honor since 2018 are Harbin of Heilongjiang Province, Haikou of Hainan Province, Yinchuan of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Changde of Hunan Province, Changshu of Jiangsu Province and Dongying of Shandong Province.

Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Jining of east China's Shandong Province as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. [Xinhua/Lian Yi]

Musonda Mumba, secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, displays the certificate of accreditation that recognises Hefei of east China's Anhui Province as the international wetland city during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. [Xinhua/Lian Yi]

Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Yancheng City of east China's Jiangsu Province as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. [Xinhua/Lian Yi]

Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Nanchang of east China's Jiangxi Province as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. [Xinhua/Lian Yi]

Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Panjin of northeast China's Liaoning Province as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. [Xinhua/Lian Yi]

Musonda Mumba (R), secretary-general of the Ramsar Convention, gives the certificate of accreditation that recognises Liangping District of southwest China's Chongqing as the international wetland city to a Chinese representative during the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 10, 2022. Twenty-five cities from 13 countries, notably seven from China, were accredited on Thursday by the Ramsar Convention as international wetland cities. [Xinhua/Lian Yi]

This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2019 shows white cranes at a crane sanctuary in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Zhou Mi]

This photo taken on May 2, 2021 shows local residents camping at Aixi Lake wetland park of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2022 shows white cranes at a crane sanctuary in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 4, 2021 shows scenery of Yuweizhou wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Zhou Mi]

This photo taken on Jan. 1, 2022 shows white cranes at a crane sanctuary in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2022 shows migrant birds at a crane sanctuary in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

This photo taken on Nov. 18, 2020 shows swans flying above a wetland in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Zhou Mi]

This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2021 shows view of Xianghu wetland park in Xihu District of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Photo by Fan Wei/Xinhua]

This photo taken on May 18, 2021 shows an egret feeding its babies at Xiangshan forest park in Xinjian District of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2019 shows cyclists competing during the Tour of Poyang Lake in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Zhou Mi]

This aerial photo taken on May 2, 2021 shows people boating at Aixi Lake wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

This photo taken on May 23, 2019 shows black swans at Aixi Lake wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Zhou Mi]

This photo taken on Sept. 28, 2019 shows cyclists competing during the Tour of Poyang Lake in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Zhou Mi]

This photo taken on April 19, 2020 shows view of Xianghu wetland park in Xihu Distrcit of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Photo by Zeng Zhenjin/Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 8, 2022 shows scenery of Yuweizhou wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 8, 2022 shows scenery of Yuweizhou wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

This photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021 shows migrant birds at a crane sanctuary in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Wan Xiang]

This photo taken on April 6, 2020 shows local residents resting on lawn at Aixi Lake wetland park in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province. Nanchang has two wetlands of international importance, eight national wetland parks, four wetlands of provincial importance and five provincial wetland parks. It was accredited on Nov. 10, 2022 by the Ramsar Convention as an international wetland city. [Xinhua/Zhou Mi]