June 11 falls on the sixth Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in China. According to Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Greening and City Appearance, Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve in Chongming has nominated as the world natural heritage site of migratory bird habitat of China's Huanghai Sea and Bohai Sea (phase II). At present, all the work of applying for natural heritage is under way in an orderly manner.

World heritage is a form of protection established by UNESCO in 1976 to protect the world's human cultural and natural heritage. China joined the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985. At present, China has 56 world heritages, including 14 natural heritages and 4 natural and cultural heritages, both ranking first in the world. There are also 38 cultural heritages, which are generally well protected.

In 2019, the migratory bird habitat of China's Huanghai Sea and Bohai Sea (phase I) was recognized as the world heritage, with two migratory bird habitats in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province listed in the world natural heritage list. At the same time, the Chinese government solemnly promises to continue to apply for the world heritage of migratory bird habitat of China's Huanghai Sea and Bohai Sea (phase II), and to include more migratory bird habitats in the Huanghai Sea and the Bohai Sea regions in the world heritage list.

The East Asia-West Australasia migration route spans Northeast Asia and Australia. Most migratory birds cannot complete such a long-distance migration continuously, so they have to stop over and look for food. Dongtan Reserve, Chongming is located in the southern edge of the Huanghai Sea Ecological Area, which is in the middle of the East Asia-West Australasia migration area for migratory birds.

Dongtan Reserve, Chongming is also listed as an ecologically sensitive area of international significance by the WWF because it is located at the core of the T-shaped junction formed between the Yangtze Estuary and the East China Sea. Its geographical location is very important.

Up to now, more than 300 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve, including 22 globally threatened species, 18 national first-class protected animals and 59 national second-class protected animals.It is an important window for China to implement relevant international conventions and agreements.

The rich biodiversity gives Dongtan important ecological value in the world, so it is listed in the world natural heritage nomination site of the migratory bird habitat of China's Huanghai Sea and Bohai Sea (phase II).

In 2023, the World Heritage Conference will deliberate on a new batch of nominated world heritage sites. Dongtan is likely to become the first world heritage site in Shanghai.