Hangzhou offers legal protection for wetlands

Wetlands, often referred to as the "kidneys of the earth", play an important role in conserving water resources, regulating climate, improving the environment, and maintaining biodiversity.

In Hangzhou, Xixi Wetland and West Lake Wetland come second to none. However, Hangzhou is home to a large family of wetlands covering an area of 130,000 hectares, which accounts for 8 percent of the city's area.

Hangzhou has spared no effort to protect them.

On May 6, the city held a press conference on the Hangzhou Wetland Protection Regulations, the city's first specific legal arm, which consists of five chapters and 33 articles and came into effect on May 1 this year.

Many people may wonder if the regulations affect the public. The answer is a resounding yes.

First of all, after the regulations are implemented, the water quality of wetlands will become clearer. This is because the regulations stipulate that if people want to engage in aquaculture or crop planting within the wetland area, they need to control the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and feed.

Secondly, the confidence of protecting wetlands in various places has been strengthened. Hangzhou provides a compensation of 20 yuan ($2.89) per acre per year for wetland protection areas in various places. An intital compensation amount of 24 million yuan has already been implemented.

Hangzhou also designated the first week of February each year as Wetland Protection Week. So far, Hangzhou has built seven wetland popular science education bases, represented by the Chinese Wetland Museum. In addition, April 10 to 16 is designated as Bird Week.

Hangzhou is currently building itself into an international wetland city. The regulations not only fill the gap in Hangzhou's wetland systematic legislation but also reflect the government's intention to respond to the needs of the people for a better life.