Seas in the island city of Sansha in south China's Hainan Province have seen improved biodiversity in recent years, from breathtaking coral reef coverage to a resurgence of endangered marine species, thanks to local efforts to protect the ecosystem.
Green sea turtles are a first-class protected species in China, with their breeding peak occurring annually from May to September. This year, 20 turtle nests have been found on the islands and reefs of the Xisha Islands in Sansha City.
As the breeding season commences, local fishermen in Sansha have stepped up monitoring of the turtles' nesting activities to enhance the survival rate of newborn hatchlings.
"The monitoring system captures real-time information about turtles coming ashore to lay eggs and sends alert messages to our mobile phones. We usually visit the site with the fishermen the next morning to verify if the turtles have actually laid eggs," said Yu Yangfei, a staff member from the city's Marine Reserve Administration.
Over the past five years, the number of natural nestings by sea turtles on the islands and reefs of Sansha has exceeded 1,300 nests. Patrol staff said the work brings them great satisfaction and pride when they encounter little turtles entering the sea.
"Every time we go on patrol and find little turtles coming out, we are very excited to see their crawling tracks. We feel a sense of achievement by protecting a nest of turtles if they make their way to the sea," said Huang Cheng, a member of the local turtle patrol team.
Due to challenges such as the scarcity of freshwater, afforestation on the islands and reefs has been a daunting task over the years.
However, after years of dedicated work, Sansha City has nurtured over 85,000 saplings and successfully planted more than 53,000 of them. On some of the islands and reefs, the greenery coverage has reached over 90 percent, and these figures are still on the rise.
Meanwhile, a total of 78 species of sea birds have been recorded over China's vast seas, with more than 40 of of them Sansha's islands and reefs.
Coral reef restoration demonstration areas have been established on Yongxing and Qilianyu Islands, where more 260,000 coral seedlings will soon be transplanted to step up conservation efforts.
"We will continue to gather efforts from various departments and relevant scientific research institutions to jointly protect the marine environment in our city," said Zhang Chenglong, deputy director of the Sansha Marine and Fishery Bureau.
China's southernmost Sansha City champions marine conservation
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
