The Zoige Wetlands National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, home to high-altitude peat bogs and rare species such as black-necked cranes, is seeing a steady improvement in its ecological health, thanks to conservation efforts undertaken by both local and central authorities over the past decade.
Covering the largest cold-region peatland in China, the reserve serves as both a vital water source and an ecological barrier to the Tibetan Plateau.
Since its designation as a national nature reserve in 1998 and inclusion on the list of internationally important wetlands in 2008, authorities have tackled challenges such as overgrazing and grassland degradation through patrols, scientific monitoring, and habitat restoration measures. These efforts have helped stabilize the wetlands and foster biodiversity.
Today, the area supports a growing number of wild species, including black-necked cranes, swans, and Siberian cranes.
Each spring, during their mating and breeding season, black-necked cranes migrate over thousands of kilometers from their wintering grounds to breed in the wetlands, highlighting the region's role as a sanctuary for rare wildlife.
Sichuan's Zoige wetland shows gains in biodiversity after decade-long protection efforts
