The Shandong Provincial Department of Finance has allocated a special fund of 200 million yuan ($31.42 million) to support the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.

The wetlands at the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying, Shandong province [Photo by Hu Youwen/For China Daily]

According to local authorities, the special fund will mainly support the ecological protection and restoration of wetlands in the Yellow River Delta region, as well as accelerate the greening of the Yellow River Basin.

Shandong will allocate 70 million yuan to support ecological conservation and restoration in the Yellow River Delta region, promote the construction of Yellow River Estuary National Park, enhance biodiversity, and promote the sound development of the ecosystem.

To fully exploit the function of wetlands and maintain regional ecological balance, a total of 63 million yuan will be granted to assist the protection and restoration of 17 wetland parks in the Yellow River Basin, which cover an area of 14,300 hectares.

Moreover, a total of 67 million yuan will be granted to subsidize cities along the Yellow River for forestation and restoration of damaged forests to establish an ecological corridor along the Yellow River. 

According to local officials, Shandong will continue to implement the national strategy for environmental protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.

A mallard leads her ducklings on a walk through the seagrass at the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying, Shandong province. [Photo by Liu Yueliang/For China Daily]