The Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve in Shenzhen has been selected to be on the list of key national wetlands in 2020, according to the city’s ecology environment bureau, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported Saturday.

A Chinese Egret is seen at Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve on May 7, 2020. Photo from DT News.

Key national wetlands refer to specific protected areas whose ecological functions and benefits are of national significance.

On May 29, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration issued a list of 29 key national wetlands in 2020. Two nature reserves in Guangdong Province are on the list, including one in Shenzhen and the other in Zhuhai.

Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve is located in the northeast part of Shenzhen Bay. It runs about nine kilometers long along the coastline, with a total area of 367.6 hectares, including 352.7 hectares of wetlands.

The Fengtang River Mouth at Shenzhen Bay is an important site to observe how birds and mangrove plants rely on each other for living. Photos from the "happyfutian" WeChat account.

The reserve is separated by Shenzhen River from Mai Po Nature Reserve in Hong Kong. Together the two nature reserves form the wetland ecosystem of Shenzhen Bay.

Statistics show that there are 16 kinds of native mangrove plants and around 200 kinds of birds in Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve. Among the birds, 23 are classified as rare or as endangered species.

Black-faced spoonbills wintering at Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve.

Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve is also the second largest wintering site for black-faced spoonbills. According to the 2020 International Black-faced Spoonbill Census, there are only 4,864 black-faced spoonbills worldwide, of which 361 inhabit the Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve, accounting for 7.4 percent of the globe’s total.

Migratory birds return to the nature reserve at dusk after a long day's hunting for food.

The reserve serves as a wintering site and resting place for nearly 100,000 migratory birds every year, and is an important stopover site in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Next, Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve will continue to enhance cooperation with Hong Kong on wetland protection, implement mangrove restoration projects, and apply to become a wetland of international importance under the prestigious Ramsar Convention.