Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve
| Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
Mudflat near the mouth of Yellow River | |
The Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve lies on the coast of the Bohai Sea | |
| Location | Dongying, Shandong, China |
| Coordinates | 37°54′N 118°57′E / 37.900°N 118.950°E |
| Area | 154,000 hectares (380,000 acres) |
| Established | 1992 |
| Governing body | Shandong Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve Administrative Bureau |
| Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve | |||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 黄河三角洲国家级自然保护区 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 黃河三角洲國家級自然保護區 | ||||||
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The Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve (YRDNNR) is a protected area in the city of Dongying, China, which covers wetland habitats on the shore of the Bohai Sea. These wetlands are formed through the deposition of silt by the Yellow River, forming a large and growing delta. The reserve is split geographically into two portions, one covering the current mouth of the Yellow River and one covering wetlands that remain near a former river mouth. In management terms, it is divided into a core area with a high level of protection, and buffer and experimental zones which allow for greater human activity.
The current river delta area only became widely settled in the 20th century. The discovery of the Shengli Oil Field brought significant economic activity to the area, and the city of Dongying was founded in 1983. The wetland ecosystem was degraded by the impact of economic activity within what became Dongying, as well as by inland agriculture which reduced water levels in the Yellow River. To preserve the wetland habitats, a process began to establish the YRDNNR, and the reserve was fully designated in 1992. The reserve now serves as a location for research and tourism, with one attraction being the "carpet" of red Suaeda salsa plants in autumn. There are plans to expand the reserve and convert it into a national park.
The wetland habitats within Dongying are crucial for bird species, supporting breeding populations as well as birds migrating along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway and the West Pacific Flyway. It is an especially important location for the protected Oriental stork, hosting the species' largest breeding population. Other species for which these wetlands form a crucial habitat include Saunders's gull and the Siberian crane.