The National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced on Feb. 2, the World Wetlands Day, that China has added 18 wetlands of international importance, including Chonghu Lake in Gong’an and Shahu Lake in Xiantao, Hubei Province.

The Chonghu Lake wetland, covering a total area of 1,475.11 hectares, features a typical lake wetland ecosystem in the Yangtze River Basin. It is an important stop and wintering spot for migratory birds between East Asia and Australasia.

The Shahu Lake wetland covers an area of nearly 10,000 hectares. As a herbaceous marsh wetland, it has the characteristics of a typical river wetland.

Hubei is a large province of wetlands. The scattered lakes in the province, brought by the Yangtze River, Han River and ancient Yun-meng Lakes, formed the largest freshwater wetland ecosystem combined by rivers and lakes in the country. It now has 1,746,900 hectares of wetlands, accounting for 9.4 percent of its total area, ranking first among the six provinces in central China.

Up to now, Hubei has six wetlands of international importance, eight national wetlands and 54 provincial wetlands. It also has 66 national wetland parks, 38 provincial wetland parks and 72 wetland reserves (communities) established. (en.hubei.gov.cn by Ruan Xinqi)