Strengthening Climate Resilience and Restoring South Dongting Lake

Au Shion Yee, Principal Water Specialist, Asian Development Bank

By next year, we will be investing more than $3.6 billion. And South Dongting Lake project through the investment in the wetland improvements, migratory bird habitat improvements, water quality improvements… We can see that this project is really bringing and will continue to bring real benefits to the local communities.

This is the South Dongting Lake. It spans over 168,000 hectares and is one of (the People’s Republic of) China’s most vital wetlands. Hundreds of species, including endangered migratory birds call this area home. It is also crucial in climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, the lake and its surrounding wetlands have been under increasing pressure. Urban expansion, invasive species, unsustainable agricultural practices, and climate change have led to significant ecological degradation and biodiversity loss.

In response, the Asian Development Bank, in partnership with the Yuanjiang Municipal government, the Hunan Provincial government, the French Development Agency and other partners have launched an ambitious project to further restore and sustainably manage the South Dongting Lake wetlands.

Tieshan Song, Vice Mayor, Yuanjiang Government

We have been actively promoting both preparation and implementation of this project with a focus on the critical issue of South Dongting Lake wetland. We also aim to leverage the ADB project to elevate the restoration of the Dongting Lake wetland system environmental protection and rare species conservation.

Au Shion Yee, Principal Water Specialist, Asian Development Bank

This is one of the first projects that is linked to ADB’s Regional Flyway Initiative, which connects a number of very, significant bird habitat and wetland areas from the northern hemisphere, from northern Siberia down to Australia. So this project is part of a broader, global effort where we can have win-win outcomes, in terms of green development for the local fishermen community transitioning to green economy as well as, ecological benefits for global protected bird species.

The goal is to restore almost 12,000 hectares of degraded wetland, improve water connectivity, and manage invasive species.

Jianzhi Li, Deputy Secretary-General of Hunan Wildlife Conservation Association, and President of Yuanjiang Environmental Protection Volunteer Association

Now, the environment is improving, we expect to see an increase in visitors which will stimulate the local economy, raising incomes and bringing numerous benefits to Yuanjiang City and the South Dongting Lake area. 

South Dongting Lake is gradually reclaiming its role as a vital ecosystem, thanks to the focused efforts in restoration and sustainable livelihoods, so that people and nature thrive together.