Wetland is one of the important ecosystems in the world. It has important ecological functions such as water conservation, water purification, biodiversity maintenance, flood storage and drought prevention, climate regulation and carbon fixation. It plays an important role in maintaining China's ecology, food, water resources, biological security and coping with global climate change. It is known as the "kidney of the earth" and "species gene pool". On June 1 this year, the wetland protection law was officially implemented. At present, what is the progress of wetland protection in China? How will wetland protection and restoration be further strengthened? The relevant person in charge of the State Forestry and grassland administration made an interpretation. "Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has continuously strengthened wetland protection. A total of 97 wetland related systems have been established at the national and provincial levels, initially forming a wetland protection policy system and opening a new stage of comprehensive wetland protection." Baodaming, deputy director of the wetland management department of the State Forestry and grassland administration, introduced. The third national land survey (hereinafter referred to as "the third national land survey") established the first-class land category of "wetland" for the first time, and the wetland ecological function is more prominent. The wetland protection and management system has been preliminarily established. 64 internationally important wetlands and 29 nationally important wetlands have been designated, more than 600 wetland nature reserves and more than 1600 wetland parks have been established, and the wetland protection rate has increased to more than 50%. In addition, China has allocated 16.9 billion yuan of central funds, implemented more than 3400 wetland protection projects, increased and repaired more than 800000 hectares of wetlands, and compensated more than 1million hectares of crops lost by birds. Baodaming said that China has achieved full coverage of international important wetlands in the mainland. The ecological status of international important wetlands is generally stable and good, the ecological status of degraded wetlands is significantly improved, the grass-roots wetland protection and management capacity has been further strengthened, and the enthusiasm of all regions to carry out wetland protection has been significantly improved. Wetland protection law is the first law specially protecting wetlands in China, with a total of 7 chapters and 65 articles. Based on the overall protection and restoration of wetland ecosystem, it establishes the "four beams and eight pillars" of the top-level design of wetland protection and management. Baodaming said that the introduction of the wetland protection law has provided legal compliance for the whole society to strengthen wetland protection and restoration. The law has established the principle of "protection first, strict management, systematic governance, scientific restoration and rational utilization", and established a comprehensive, coordinated and fully functional wetland protection legal system, leading China's wetland protection work into the track of rule of law. In addition, forests, grasslands, deserts and wetlands are important natural ecosystems. China has special laws such as the forest law, the grassland law and the law on prevention and control of desertification. The promulgation of the wetland protection law has filled the blank of China's ecosystem legislation and further enriched and improved China's ecological civilization system. In 2019, China successfully applied for hosting the 14th Conference of the parties to the Convention on wetlands, which is planned to be held in Wuhan, Hubei Province in November this year. After nearly 50 years of development, the connotation of the wetland convention has gradually evolved from focusing on the protection of waterfowl habitat and migratory waterfowl to the overall protection of wetland ecosystem. Baodaming said: "the implementation of the wetland protection law plays an important role in promoting China's full implementation of the wetland convention, participation and leadership in international wetland protection, highlighting China's promotion of building a community with a shared future for mankind and establishing the image of a responsible big country." Baodaming pointed out that the first is to comprehensively protect wetlands. Based on the achievements of the "three national land transfers", scientifically determine the wetland management and control objectives to ensure the stability of the total amount of wetlands. Scientifically delimit the wetland scope included in the ecological protection red line. Optimize the spatial layout of the wetland protection system, strengthen the protection of high ecological value wetlands, gradually improve the wetland protection rate, and form a wetland protection system with wide coverage, strong connectivity and hierarchical management. Second, the restoration of degraded wetlands. We will take near natural measures to enhance the natural restoration capacity of wetland ecosystems, focusing on the ecological restoration and comprehensive management of wetlands with seriously degraded ecological functions. We will strengthen the protection and restoration of wetlands in major strategic areas and implement special actions for the protection and restoration of mangroves. Third, strengthen wetland management. Establish and improve the cooperation mechanism between wetland protection departments to form a joint force to jointly protect wetlands. Improve the wetland management system, establish and improve the wetland hierarchical management system, release the list of important wetlands, and formulate hierarchical management measures. Baodaming said that by the end of the 14th five year plan, China will strive to increase the wetland protection rate to 55%, restore 1million mu of wetlands, build 135700 mu of mangroves and repair 146200 mu of mangroves. (Xinhua News Agency)