Chongming working harder on becoming greener
Chongming, China’s third-largest island, is about 26 percent forested. When it hosts the 2021 China Flower Expo, forest coverage in the expo site will rise to 35 percent, and will increase to 50 percent after the event. Garbage disposal and sewage collection in the site will be at 100 percent while the use of renewable energy will be higher than 20 percent.To get more Chongming news, you can visit shine news official website.

Organic farms produce vegetables and fruits sought throughout Shanghai. Natural wetlands, fresh air and clean waterways have made the island a favorite getaway for those seeking a respite from the chaos of urban life.

Last year, all the surface water environment function area reached the quality standard and the air quality was excellent on 86.3 percent of the days. Moreover, 33.4 percent of the household garbage was recycled.

By 2040, Chongming will be characterized by “green development, culture, wisdom and sustainability,” according to Li Zheng, chief of the island district.

The natural wetland coverage will be 45 percent and river area 10.3 percent by 2040.

Chongming Island offers a scenic, peaceful environment for jogging and cycling. Some 220 kilometers of cycling track and 42 kilometers of a running track along a riverbank are popular with local residents.

Along both routes the environment changes in delightful ways. Zhongxing Town is awash with cherry blossom at the moment. In Xincun village, there is the sweet scent of osmanthus while Miaozhen Town features maple trees that turn a brilliant scarlet in the fall.

The paths through Luhua Town follow the banks of a scenic lake and pass by tangerine orchards. Changxing Town features a four-season scenic area, complete with bicycle rental stations and service centers.Chongming has long been a favorite site for birdwatchers. Its protected wetlands are stopover points or wintering grounds for millions of birds migrating between Siberia and Australia. In recent years, island officials have announced plans to step up the campaign against illegal poaching of wildlife, including birds.

“Preventing illegal hunting, including the use of nets and poison, is a key priority for Chongming District,” said Li.

The Xisha Wetland on the west side of the island and Dongtan Wetland in the east are the first priorities when it comes to law enforcement.

Law enforcement teams have been established at forestry stations, with wildlife protection patrols in every village.

In recent years, the Oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana) has been spotted in the Dongtan Wetland Protection Zone while the number of cygnets is on the rise as are birds such as the mandarin duck, the black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) and that Eurasian spoonbill.

The population of the island and land available for commercial development are both being strictly controlled to protect the environment. The population will be kept to around 700,000 by 2020.