[Video provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

World Wetlands Day promotional events were held in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin province, on Feb 1-2, jointly organized by the One Planet Foundation from Shenzhen and the Jilin Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau. The events brought together researchers and practitioners to share the latest findings on wetland restoration technologies, integrated ecological education, and ecological value assessment.

Gao Jigang, head of the bureau, said the province plays a vital role along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway as a key stopover for migratory birds. Jilin has 845,000 hectares of wetlands, supporting 297 species of wetland wildlife and 613 species of higher wetland plants, including 70 endangered species under key protection.

Wang Haizhong, president of the China Wetlands Association, noted that China places great importance on wetland conservation. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), more than 1,000 wetland protection and restoration projects have been implemented nationwide.

This year's World Wetlands Day highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting wetland cultural heritage to achieve a win-win balance between ecological protection and cultural continuity. Over the years, the One Planet Foundation has worked with partners in Jilin to advance wetland and migratory bird conservation through science-based restoration, community co-management, multi-level environmental education, and broad public outreach.