Site: Chongming Dongtan Nature Reserve, Shanghai

Designation date: 11-01-2002

Coordinates: 31°38'N 121°58'E

Elevation: 0 m - 5 m

Area: 32,600 ha

Location: The Chongming Dongtan Nature Reserve lies at the mouth of the Yangtze River, in the northeast part of Shanghai Municipality, about 46 km away from the centre of the city and 48 km from the county seat of Chongming.

Criteria: 1 ,2 ,4 ,5 ,8

Importance: Located at the mouth of the Yangtze River (the third or fourth longest river in the world), Chongming Dongtan is a typical coastal wetland ecosystem. The site is a staging and wintering site for millions of birds, as well as a spawning and feeding ground for 63 species of fish, including the endangered Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis. The number of geese exceeds 30,000 during winter.

Wetland Types: 3 ,1 ,G ,F (dominant types shown in bold)

Most of the area consists of irrigated land and intertidal mud flats.

Biological/Ecological notes: Marsh vegetation is the most dominant vegetation in the area, followed by halophyte vegetation. In the near coastal area where the elevation is higher, the predominant vegetation cover is coastal halophyte vegetation including areas of Imperata cylindrica. Species that can be found are Phragmites australis, Scirpus triqueter and S. mariqueter, a unique halophytic species in the Yangtze River mouth area. According to records, there are 109 species of waterbirds, of which four are resident and the rest are migratory. There are 12 species of birds listed in state protection categories, including Grus vipio, G. nonacha, Mergus squamatus and Numenius borealis. The mammals Mustela sibirica and Erinaceus europaeus and amphibians Bufo bufo, Elaphe dione and Pelophylax nigromaculata can also be found in the area. The Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis and Chinese paddlefish, Psephurus gladius are protected species in this region. Fish of economic importance in the area are Anguila japonica, Coilia mystus and Mugil cephalus.

Hydrological/Physical notes: Chongming Dongtan is formed by the accumulation of mud and sand from the north tributary of the Yangtze River and the north water route where the tides are low. The rate of flow at the east side is slower than at the south and north. Mud and sand accumulate and the mudflats expand towards the sea. This is of great significance to groundwater recharge, sediment trapping and shoreline stabilization in the coastal areas of the Chiongmingh Island.

Human Uses: The People's Government of Shanghai Municipality has decided to transfer the jurisdiction over the intertidal mudflat wetland and the river mouth wetland to the Nature Reserve. The surrounding area is state-owned/collective-owned. There is agricultural production, forestry production, aquaculture (eel and crab) at the site, and a large potential for ecotourism in the future. The surrounding area is residential, with a population of over 58,400 people.

Conservation Measures: In November 1998, the Shanghai Municipal People's Government approved the establishment of Chongming Dongtan as a nature reserve (NR). In July 1999, it was included in the East Asia-Australia Protected Area Network for Migratory Birds. An application has been submitted to participate in the Northeast Asian Network for Migratory Cranes. Chongming Dongtan was designated a "Class A" Wetland of International Importance in China's Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan. The Nature Reserve authority has separately signed an Agreement on Strengthening the Construction and Management of the Nature Reserve with the People's Government of Chongming County and the Shanghai Industries (group) Company Ltd. Active efforts have been also made to encourage the local communities to participate in NR management activities. A management plan has been developed but not yet been implemented. At present, the Reserve management is preparing training materials in cooperation with WWF and Huadong Normal University. According to planning, at the end of 2001 a River Mouth Wetland Ecology Exhibition Hall, Wetland Information Center, Environment Education Center and dormitories were to have been constructed.

Adverse Factors: Deposition of sediments has been extending seaward. The resulting succession including changes in the occurrence of birds, benthos and plants has negatively affected the habitats of migratory birds. Human activities such as planting of Spartina anglica, and herding and burning of vegetation have severely disturbed or destroyed the roosting site for the wintering crane Grus monacha. Year round fishing for young eel has influenced perching and food seeking of waterbirds. Excessive reclamation of the mudflat area and over-herding have destroyed and/or fragmented large areas of natural habitats. Presently, the reclaimed land is mainly used for farmland, fishponds, road systems and agriculture. According to the construction plan, the Shanghai Industrial and Real Estate Area will lie partially near the buffer and core zones of the reserve. Such large scale of development (including information technology, recreation, real estate and tourism) will likely change the original ecology of the system. Additionally, there is a hazard of pollution by farming activities.

Site Management: The Chongming Dongtan Bird Nature Reserve Management Division of Shanghai Municipality, No. 191 Furongijang Road. Changning District, Shanghai, 200000, China. Tel: +86-21-62733855. Fax: +86-21-59435145. e-mail: cmwnr@sh163a.sta.net.cn

External Link:

Based on the 2001 Ramsar Information Sheet.