This weekend, Nov 8th and 9th, I am glad to be part of the 8th Futian District Spoonbill Festival at the Futian Mangrove Ecological Park, celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Organized by the Futian District People's Government, the Futian Water Affairs Bureau, and the Mangrove Conservation Foundation (MCF), the event featured prominent representatives from international mangrove centers, local environmental authorities, academic institutions, and volunteer groups. The festival highlighted the ecological restoration and operations of the park over the past decade, emphasizing the importance of community participation in wetland conservation and biodiversity protection.
Since 2018, the Spoonbill Festival has combined education with fun, offering visitors engaging activities such as interactive nature walks and educational booths. This year, visitors had the opportunity to learn about biodiversity protection through hands-on experiences and art installations focused on black-faced spoonbills. Volunteers played a crucial role in these activities, guiding visitors and raising awareness about environmental issues.
The Futian Mangrove Ecological Park, located within a key migration route for birds, has become an ecological landmark in Shenzhen. With its rich biodiversity, it serves as a model for social participation in wetland restoration, offering valuable lessons for future conservation efforts. Over the past ten years, the park's efforts have significantly contributed to environmental education and the protection of the black-faced spoonbill and other wildlife.
