Environment | Management of local wetlands praised

Kampeng Lei (small picture)

The management of Macau’s wetlands was the topic of a discussion held last week at the University of Saint Joseph. Dr Kampeng Lei commended the work done to preserve the wetlands since renovation projects began in 2009.
Lei, who holds a PhD from the University of Macau and is now serving as an advisor to the government, claims that wetlands are considered to be the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems worldwide.
Wetlands are defined as areas in which water covers the soil for all or part of the year. They play an essential role in maintaining the environment by assisting with water purification, food control, and shoreline stability.
In addition, they act as a carbon sink that accumulates and stores carbon-containing chemical compounds, thereby removing them from the atmosphere.
There are two main zones in the MSAR. Zone I is located west of the Cotai land reclamation area, while Zone II is located near the Lotus Bridge. The latter zone was recently included in a list of the top ten most attractive wetlands in China.  This can be considered quite a feat, given the quality of the competition on the mainland.
The two wetlands in Macau are important stopover points or destinations for migratory birds flying between Siberia and Australia.  They also host a number of resident non-   migratory species, some of which are unique to Macau.
According to Lei, the wetlands are collectively home to 173 bird species (some of which are migratory), 366 species of insect, more than 360 plant species and 54 species of fish. Additionally, there are 26 species of dragonfly and 63 species of butterfly, many of which are unique to the MSAR.
Many of the birds that use the wetland areas as a stop-off point are in danger of extinction due to human interference. Despite the threat, the birds are biologically engineered to attempt the journey spanning thousands of miles. Up to 1,000 migratory birds reside in Macau during parts of the migratory season.
In 2009, a decision was made to reverse the recession of Macau’s wetlands, and to maintain them so that they can continue to serve as a stop-­off point for migratory birds, as well as to serve as a means of promoting eco-tourism.
An ecological project was commissioned in 2011 that involved extending the water-to-
land area ratio and planting shaved bamboo, upon which the birds like to perch when feeding.
A second project was conducted in 2014 that reportedly increased the water area by 50 percent. A number of ditches and trenches were also dug.
There are three key areas that the wetlands management personnel monitor throughout the year and upon which necessary restoration works are undertaken during the summer: water environments; vegetation conditions; and mudflat environments.
In the summer, grass is also cut because many of the water birds will avoid areas with long grass to evade lurking predators.
The projects are considered important elements in the promotion of eco-tourism, especially with the recent opening of new bird-watching facilities. Staff reporter