WETLANDS IN GUANGDONG AND THEIR CONSERVATION

Guangdong is rich in wetland resources, which are characterized by their various types, large areas, broad distribution, high density, and obvious tropical-subtropical features. In the last decades a large area of wetlands in the province have been damaged because of blind exploitation, irrational utilization and transformation, pollution and silting-up, and over-exploitation of biological resources in the wetlands. Potent measures should be taken to conserve the wetland resources. It is suggested that plans and laws for wetland conservation in Guangdong be formulated, databank and modern monitoring system for wetlands be established, scientific research on wetlands be strengthened, more wetland reserves be built, water pollution in wetlands be controlled, coordinative mechanism for wetland management be constructed, and knowledge of wetland conservation be popularized.