Uncategorized
China’s Yellow River Delta sees ecological improvement
By Li Rui, People’s Daily
The Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, located at the river’s estuary in east China’s Shandong Province, has constantly enhanced its eco-compensation efforts in recent years, diverting nearly 360 million cubic meters of water from the river to the wetlands.
The nature reserve has effectively prevented saltwater intrusion from destroying the wetland ecosystem and alleviated the salinization of soils.
The Yellow River, China’s second largest river, flows into the Bohai Sea in Shandong’s Dongying. The deposition of huge amounts of sand and mud from the great river makes the Yellow River delta, which generates extensive wetlands.
The wetlands there, retreating from the sea, are extremely vulnerable. They once shrank in the 1980s and 1990s due to saltwater intrusion, coastal erosion, droughts and other factors.
To protect the wetland ecosystem and the rare birds living there, the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve was established in 1992. Covering 1,530 square kilometers, the nature reserve boasts the world’s most complete and the youngest wetland ecosystem in warm temperate zone.
Sporobolus alterniflorus, commonly known as smooth cordgrass, hinders the stability of the wetland ecosystem, said Wang Jinhe, head of a Dongying institute that studies the development of the marine economy.
“The plant is very prolific and has a strong root system. It has severely encroached on the growing space of local plants such as Suaeda salsa and Chinese tamarisk. Its presence in the nature reserve had led to a sharp decline in the biological density of benthos in the tidal flat and reduction in the foraging and inhabiting space for birds. It is a threat against the biodiversity in the nature reserve,” Wang explained.
Since 2016, Dongying, in collaboration with scientific institutions such as the Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has used geographic information systems and remote sensing technology and launched field investigations to learn the distribution and intrusion mechanism of the smooth cordgrass in the Yellow River Delta.
As a result, it has developed multiple treatment technologies and carried out management projects that have effectively contained the expansion of the plant and restored the biotic population in the intertidal zone.
The nature reserve has also launched 16 wetland restoration projects with a total investment of nearly 1.08 billion yuan ($160.65 million), restoring 72,500 mu (4,833 hectares) of wetlands and flat from farmlands, connecting 241 kilometers of water channels, and recovering 47,000 mu (3,133 hectares) of Suaeda salsa and seagrass beds.
The unique restoration model has achieved remarkable progress that reaches long-term stability of natural succession with one treatment, and a compound ecosystem that includes river, land, flat and sea is taking shape. The integrity of the river estuary’s new wetland ecosystem is further enhanced.
Black-headed gulls, known as “elves on wetlands,” are quite “picky” when choosing their breeding places, said Zhao Yajie, senior engineer of the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve’s management committee, adding that the birds are an indicator of the ecological changes taking place on wetlands. The nature reserve has put the habitats of black-headed gulls, oriental white storks, cranes and other species under key protection, according to the engineer.
Over the years, the nature reserve has seen a prominent increase in the variety and number of bird species. Now, it is home to 371 bird species, up from 187 when it was just established.
Known as an “international airport for birds,” the nature reserve has become an important stop, wintering ground and breeding place for birds migrating along the East Asia-Australasia and the West Pacific flyways. It is also an important breeding place for oriental white storks, the world’s second-largest breeding place for black-headed gulls and the world’s second-largest wintering ground for white cranes.
Dongying is currently working to build the Yellow River Estuary National Park, which will span 3,523 square kilometers, including 1,371 square kilometers of land area and 2,152 square kilometers of sea area. It will set a new sample for the protection of river and delta ecology as China’s first integrated land–sea national park.
“There must be more birds coming to and settling around the Yellow River estuary in the future,” said Zhao.
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
A security team, comprising operatives of DSS and forest guards, has rescued two victims of abduction in a forest between Oba Isin/Owa Onire area of isin and Ifelodun Local Government Areas of Kwara State.
The rescued victims are 16-year-old Fatima Azeez and Ibrahim Azeez who is five-year old.
The team also eliminated two armed bandits, while others escaped with severe injuries as the security forces stormed their hideouts, according to a report by DSS and local authorities.
The security team also recovered several items from the kidnappers, including one Ak-47 rifle; one single barrel; one fully loaded magazine with nine empty; mini-solar panel; and food items.
The rescue operation is connected to the multi-agency counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping efforts of the government.
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Police Command has commenced full-scale investigations into the killing of a farmer, Mr Azeez Garba, whose body was discovered on his farmland along the Owa-Onire axis, the boundary between Isanlu-Isin and Owu-Isin in Isin Local Government Area of the State.
The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, described the murder as “cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” and directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to intensify efforts to identify and arrest those behind the attack.
According to the police, preliminary investigations showed that the deceased left home for his farm in the morning but did not return, prompting his family members and local vigilantes to organise a search.
The search party reportedly found his motorcycle parked on the farmland before discovering his lifeless body a short distance away. Police said the victim had sustained deep machete cuts.
Reacting to the incident, CP Adekimi ordered investigators to deploy all available intelligence and investigative resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.
“The killing is cruel, senseless and unacceptable,” the commissioner of Police said, assuring residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Although no suspect had been arrested as of Monday, the command said all available leads were being diligently pursued.
The police also assured the bereaved family, the people of Isin Local Government Area and the general public that investigators were working tirelessly to track down everyone connected with the crime.
“The Kwara State Police Command remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state and will not relent until every person responsible for this reprehensible act is brought before the law,” the statement added.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
A coordinated security operation involving the Kwara State Police Command, other security agencies and the Kwara State Polytechnic Security Unit has led to the arrest of a suspected cultist, Agboola Olamilekan, with a locally fabricated pistol recovered from him in Ilorin.
The operation, carried out as part of ongoing efforts to combat cultism and violent crimes across the state, was described by the police as another breakthrough in intelligence-driven policing aimed at dismantling criminal networks and reducing the circulation of illegal firearms.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, said the suspect was apprehended during the joint operation while in possession of the firearm.
According to the statement, the operation is part of the Command’s sustained strategy to disrupt cult-related activities and deny criminal elements the opportunity to operate within the state.
Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to intensify the fight against cultism and other violent crimes.
“Every successful operation represents another step towards dismantling criminal networks and enhancing public safety across the state through proactive and intelligence-led policing,” the commissioner said.
The police disclosed that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other suspected members of the criminal network linked to the suspect.
The Command added that it remains committed to advancing the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, through intelligence-led policing, strategic collaboration with relevant stakeholders and sustained operations aimed at ensuring that those responsible for threatening the peace and security of Kwara State are brought to justice.
Kwara: Security Team Kills Two Bandits, Rescues Two Kidnap Victims
Kwara: Police Launch Investigations Into Killing Of Farmer On Farmland
Kwara: Joint Security Team Arrests Alleged Cultist, Recovers Firearm
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