Recently, the live event "Approaching Shanghai's First World Natural Heritage, Decoding the Stories Behind the Heritage Application" was successfully held. With a duration of 100 minutes, 12 domestic and international broadcasting platforms, and over 1.1 million online viewers, this live broadcast, which involved multiple locations, led a vast number of netizens to immerse themselves in Shanghai's first world natural heritage — the Chongming Dongtan Wetland for Migratory Birds. The live event was meticulously guided by the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipality and the Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau, and was greatly supported by the Management Affairs Center of Chongming Dongtan Nature Reserve and the Integrated Media Center of Dongying City, Shandong Province.

Why Chongming Dongtan?

On July 26, 2024, at the 46th World Heritage Conference held in New Delhi, India, the Chongming Dongtan Wetland for Migratory Birds was inscribed on the World Heritage List, marking a breakthrough for Shanghai in terms of natural heritage. So, what makes the Chongming Dongtan Wetland for Migratory Birds so deserving of this honor?

"The geographical location of Chongming Dongtan is extremely critical, and the protection of wetlands and migratory birds has been visibly effective over the years," said Wu Wei, a senior engineer at the Management Affairs Center of Chongming Dongtan Nature Reserve. This year marks his 16th year working there, during which he has witnessed the increase in the number of waterbirds and the reserve's decade-long "battle" to protect bird habitats from the invasive Spartina alterniflora. During the live broadcast, Wu educated the audience on how Chongming Dongtan is located on the largest waterbird-bearing flyway of the nine global migration routes — the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. He also vividly introduced the appearances and habits of "celebrity" species such as the black-faced spoonbill, Saunders’s gull, and oriental white stork.

According to research statistics, the Chongming Dongtan Wetland for Migratory Birds has recorded over 300 species of birds, including 22 globally threatened species and 18 species under first-class national protection in China. Wu said that the protection efforts at Dongtan is continuing, with the number of waterbirds recorded each year still increasing, and their steps never halting.

Showing the world Chongming Dongtan

Unique perspectives, delicate lenses, and lively music... In live broadcast, a heavyweight film — the trailer for the documentary "Dongtan, Home of the Birds" — caught the attention of many viewers. The Arabic version of the trailer was also released simultaneously in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Tang Xinrong, the director of the documentary, is a senior editor and director of the Documentary Center of Shanghai Broadcasting and Television, and has been involved in the creation of several wildlife documentaries.

Twenty years ago, Tang, fresh out of university, came to Chongming to film the documentary "Chongming Dongtan." Twenty years later, upon his return to Chongming Dongtan and seeing the lush aquatic plants and gracefully dancing migratory birds, he exclaimed, "Dongtan is truly a paradise for birds." During the live broadcast, Tang narrated his story with Chongming Dongtan in simple language, bringing the audience closer to the natural ecology and allowing more people to understand the beauty of this world natural heritage site.

Running through mudflats, wading in ponds, and chasing waterbirds... Tang shared many interesting stories from the filming process during the live broadcast, which received a warm response from netizens. Currently, the full documentary "Dongtan, Home of the Birds" is in post-production. Tang said, "We want to tell the ecological story of Dongtan through the documentary, showing the world the beauty of Chongming!"

The path of ecology never stops

Since the establishment of the ecological island in 2001, Chongming's path of ecological development has spanned over two decades. Zhu Dajian, the director of the Institute of Sustainable Development and Management at Tongji University and a senior professor, is an ecological economist who has long been concerned with the development of Chongming. He also shared his outlook on the development of a world-class ecological island during this live event.

"Many years ago, I said that if Chongming wanted to tell a good ecological story, it should start with Dongtan. Dongtan has also been very promising, bringing a big surprise to Chongming and Shanghai this year..." Zhu said that for the international metropolis of Shanghai, Chongming Dongtan is a precious ecological treasure. The successful application for heritage status of Dongtan is of extraordinary significance to Chongming, Shanghai, China, and the world.

"The ecology of Chongming is alive, full of vitality, and can also promote development," Zhu said. Now, there is a major issue facing Chongming, which is how to transform ecological advantages into development advantages. This topic also sparked heated discussions among netizens during the live broadcast, with everyone sharing their views and suggestions on developing eco-tourism, creating ecological agriculture, and attracting ecological talent.

With the in-depth advancement of wetland and migratory bird protection, the importance and influence of Chongming Dongtan will further highlight. Chongming will walk the path of ecological priority and green development with more confidence and determination, providing a Chongming example that clear waters and lush mountains are as valuable as gold and silver.

As autumn deepens, the "vanguard" of the 2024 autumn migratory birds has gradually arrived at Chongming Dongtan. On this ecological oasis of Chongming, the beautiful story of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is continuously being performed and carried on.