Author: Zhang Shuangshuang
Not long ago, the Yangtze finless porpoise’s "Map of Catching Dolphins" and "Guide to Watching Dolphins" were released, which summarized the observation points of finless porpoises in detail, carefully planned five dolphin-chasing routes, and explored new forms of biodiversity protection and popular science education with the help of human scenery explanation and finless porpoises’ photographing skills.
Known as the "smiling angel", the Yangtze finless porpoise is the only existing cetacean in the Yangtze River, and it is also a national first-class protected wild animal. However, due to habitat loss, accidental fishing, water pollution, climate change and other reasons, the finless porpoise population once declined sharply, and was listed as an "extremely endangered species" in 2013. With the deepening of the Yangtze River Protection, the population of finless porpoise has increased steadily, reaching 1,249 in 2022, an increase of 23.42% compared with 2017. It has gradually become normal for residents along the Yangtze River to "encounter" finless porpoises on the riverside. The "Dolphin Watching Strategy" is not only a practical manual to meet the public’s observation needs, but also an "ecological guide" for the harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
"Ecological Guide" points to a road of ecological priority and green development. The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China put the construction of ecological civilization into the overall layout of "five in one" in Socialism with Chinese characteristics, and Report to the 20th CPC National Congress of the Party put forward "promoting green development and promoting harmonious coexistence between man and nature". Every step we take is moving in the direction of improving the system of ecological civilization system and enhancing the ability of ecological environment management.
In recent years, the provinces and cities along the Yangtze River have put the restoration of the ecological environment of the Yangtze River in an important position, "focusing on great protection instead of great development". The ecological environment protection in the Yangtze River Economic Belt has undergone a turning point and the biodiversity has increased significantly. Looking at the land of China, from the tropical rain forest to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, from the coast of the East China Sea to the southwest hinterland, more and more rare and endangered wild animals have come into public view, and new species and new records have been discovered continuously. In the photo exhibition of rare wild animals in the Yangtze River valley, rare wild animals such as running Tibetan antelope, smiling finless porpoise and golden monkey in the snow all left wonderful moments in front of the camera. Some photographers said with emotion: "There are more and more’ national treasures’ in the lens."
Rare animals frequently appear, showing the beauty of nature and ecology, and making more people realize that the construction of ecological civilization has always been on the road. The "Decision" of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee put forward: "We must improve the system of ecological civilization system, promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion and growth in coordination, actively respond to climate change, and accelerate the improvement of the system and mechanism for implementing the Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets concept." With a higher position, wider vision and greater efforts, we will promote the ecological environment protection work in the new journey and handle the relationship between development and protection. We will surely build a beautiful China with green mountains, flowing green water and fresh air, and realize the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. (Zhang Shuangshuang)
Liu Chao
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