As the World Oceans Day is marked on Sunday, China is making significant strides in protecting and restoring vital coastal ecosystems, particularly mangroves and coral reefs that are vital to healthy marine ecology.
The Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve in the southernmost island province of Hainan is China's first wetland reserve primarily dedicated to mangrove conservation. In recent years, the reserve has planted 130 hectares of mangroves as part of intensified restoration efforts.
"Water quality has become much better. While we previously documented only three seagrass species, our recent surveys have identified an increase to five species. Only when the ecosystem continues turning for the better will new species gradually emerge," said Feng Erhui, forestry engineer at the reserve.
The tropical island province has established 14 mangrove reserves covering 73 percent of its existing mangroves. This year, Hainan plans to add 2,000 hectares of mangroves while developing ecological compensation mechanisms to encourage public participation in conservation efforts.
In east China's Fujian province, the Zhangjiangkou Mangrove National Nature Reserve is the country's most biodiverse mangrove community north of the Tropic of Cancer covering an area of over 266 hectares.
"The ambient climate is relatively stable at this stage, when we should take the advantage of favorable weather to vigorously replant mangroves, as the survival rates are relatively higher now," said Wu Haisheng, deputy director of the reserve.
Fujian is also stepping up its efforts to protect coral reefs. Researchers from the Ministry of Natural Resources' Third Institute of Oceanography have just launched Fujian's first systematic coral rehabilitation project in Dongshan waters.
The team employs a technological system of artificial cultivation plus transplantation, asexually propagating coral fragments until they grow up to five cm, then affixing them to natural or artificial reefs.
"We geometrically increase coral quantities by fragmenting parent colonies, then affix the cuttings to custom ceramic holders to create transplant-ready seedlings for natural or artificial reefs," said associate researcher Wang Jianjia.
"We conduct regular maintenance and health checks on transplanted corals while monitoring coral growth patterns and reef restoration effects. These findings will provide us with more valuable reference for our future coral cultivation and planting efforts," Zhou Xijie, assistant researcher at the institute, explained the post-transplantation care. These initiatives demonstrate China's integrated approach to marine conservation, combining habitat protection with active restoration to maintain coastal resilience and biodiversity.
China steps up conservation efforts of coastal ecosystems
China's push toward a greener future is once again in the spotlight at this year's annual political "two sessions", as lawmakers are reviewing a draft ecological environment code, a significant step toward establishing a comprehensive legal framework for ecological protection.
The draft code was submitted on March 5 to the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, for deliberation.
Once adopted, it will become China's second formal statutory code, after the Civil Code, which was adopted in 2020.
The rule of law has been continuously strengthened to support the country's green progress. China already has more than 30 laws related to environmental protection, along with over 100 sets of administrative regulations and more than 1,000 sets of local rules.
The latest legislative move comes amid China's historic gains in ecological conservation over the past decade or so. Championing green development, the country has recorded the world's fastest growth in forest resources and afforestation, led globally in renewable energy development, and achieved one of the fastest national reductions in energy intensity worldwide.
The 1,242-article draft has five chapters, covering areas including pollution control, ecological protection, and green and low-carbon development.
Scholars involved in drafting the legislation say the code goes beyond broad legal principles. It is also designed to address environmental issues that affect people's daily lives.
"Electric vehicles are becoming very common in China. My family has one. We all think it environment-friendly. But have you ever thought about this question: how do we deal with the first generation of EV batteries after they expire a few years later? The same goes for wind turbine blades and solar panels," said Ding Lin, assistant professor of the Renmin University of China.
China's environmental progress has drawn global attention in recent years, from improving air quality to expanding renewable energy. Yet amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, some observers have questioned whether the country will maintain the same pace of green transition.
"Last year during the COP30, even some friends who are very familiar with China asked me whether China will continue its green development path. I told them we have gradually worked out new policies. We have a very clear direction and goal. In a world full of uncertainties, we are providing the most certainty," said Wang Yi, an NPC deputy from east China's Zhejiang Province and professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In a country pursuing modernization, taking the time to codify environmental laws sends a clear message: economic growth and environmental protection are not a trade-off to be managed, but a commitment to be upheld. For China, a beautiful environment is not a luxury for the future, it is a right for the present, and a responsibility to the next generation.
"This code reflects China's vision of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. It shows how development and environmental protection can move forward together," said Lyu Zhongmei, vice chair of the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee.
China will accelerate the green transition across the board and cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of the GDP by a total of 17 percent in the 2026-2030 period, according to a draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development submitted to the NPC for deliberation on March 5.
Chinese lawmakers review draft ecological environment code in major green legislative push
