Chen Yong, chairman of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. [Photo/Ningxia Daily]
The Ningxia Hui autonomous region holds a special position in China's ecological landscape and bears the important responsibility of safeguarding the ecological security of northwest China and across the nation, said Chen Yong, chairman of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, on March 8.
Ningxia has seen huge ecological changes in recent years. Data showed that the water quality of the Ningxia section of the Yellow River has remained Class II for nine consecutive years, with a soil and water conservation rate of 77.72 percent, higher than the national average.
Chen also shared compelling examples, noting that the Qingtongxia Reservoir Wetland, the largest Yellow River mudflat wetland in Ningxia, has now recovered to host 212 bird species, making it the second largest bird habitat in northwest China.
At the beginning of this century, due to reclamation and grazing, the ecological pressure here was significant, and the number of bird species had decreased to just several dozen. Through efforts such as converting farmland to wetlands, demolishing illegal constructions, and restoring water systems – supported by a cumulative investment of over 40 million yuan (5.79 million) – the ecosystem has gradually recovered.
Chen added that in recent years, Ningxia has vigorously promoted the protection and restoration of wetlands. The region has built four wetland nature reserves and 26 wetland parks. In the autumn migration season of 2025, more than 42,000 wild birds were detected, an increase of over 10,000 compared to the same period in 2024.
Elk search for food at Nanhua Mountain in Ningxia. [Photo/Ningxia Daily]
The Ningxia Hui autonomous region committee of CPPCC conducts democratic supervision on ecological protection and governance every year, covering everything from Yellow River management and mine restoration to pollution prevention, control, and wetland conservation, through special consultations and supervision.
The suggestions put forward by the committee members on inter provincial and inter regional joint prevention and control, improving ecological compensation standards, and increasing investment in scientific and technological desertification control have been adopted and absorbed into the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).
"The return of elk, wild horses, snow leopards, and migratory birds reflects years of hard work and serves as a reminder for the work ahead. Only by continuously protecting their habitats can these returns become permanent," said Chen.