位于珠江三角洲附近珠海市的淇澳岛曾一度被红树林覆盖，但是由于大量砍伐被严重破坏。这里曾是白鹭的栖息地，同样受到砍伐森林的影响，白鹭数量急剧减少。此外，当地人还从来自台湾和香港的猎白鹭者那里获取收入。2003年尾，民间环保组织的田野研究及科学家访问了淇澳岛，参观了当地组织成功地生态修复工作。红树林已经从20公顷扩大到1平方公里，再到2平方公里。这减缓了海岸线侵蚀、改善了鱼类繁殖生存环境，并使白鹫数量再次增加。现在，捕猎及伐木都被禁止，到是有许多生态旅游者来岛上观看清晨和傍晚时成群的百鹫飞过。生态旅游也增加了当地收入。最近，政府计划修建跨珠江大桥将珠海、澳门及香港连接起来。桥梁和高速公路修建必将破坏淇澳岛红树林及其湿地生态环境。仅有澳门西面的一小快濒危红树林可能幸存下来。珠江的当地渔业也会再次受到不同程度的影响。更多信息请参见http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/china/reports-and-data/field-workshop.

W.Parham (parham305@aol.com)

Qi'ao Island, in the Pearl River near Zhuhai, once was surrounded by mangrove forests but became severely damaged by fire-wood cutters. Originally, a large population of white egrets inhabited the mangroves. However, firewood cutting damaged their habitat and the egret population declined. In addition, local people received payments from Chinese from Taiwan and Hong Kong who came to Qi'ao to shoot the egrets for sport.

A field workshop of environmental NGOs and scientists visited the island in late 2003 and observed excellent restoration work by local organizations. They have expanded the mangroves from about 20 hectares to 1 to 2 sq. km. This in turn slowed shore-line erosion, improved fish-breeding habitats, and increased the egret population. Today, hunting and fire-wood cutting are prohibited here but many tourists come to the island to watch the large flights of egrets come and go in the evening and morning. Ecotourism has increased the local income.

Now, however, government authorities are planning to connect Zhuhai and Macau to Hong Kong by bridges that will cross the Pearl River. Bridge and highway construction will likely destroy Qi'ao's mangroves and wetland environment. Only a small patch of endangered mangrove in Zhuhai just west of Macau may survive. Local fishing in the Pearl River will be adversely affected once again.
(for workshop information, see) http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/china/reports-and-data/field-workshop.
W. Parham
parham305@aol.com