At the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi, India, the "Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II)" was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This inclusion recognizes the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying city, East China's Shandong province, as a World Heritage site.
An aerial view of the pristine ecological conditions at the Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve. [Photo/VCG]
The application process undertaken by Shandong for this selection consisted of four parts: preliminary listing, application review, formal submission, and final approval.
As early as May 5, 2023 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the sole international consulting agency for World Natural Heritage, sent experts to inspect the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve. The experts reported clear affirmation of the reserve's outstanding universal value, highlighting its crucial role in the migration, breeding, and wintering of migratory birds.
At the start of this year, Shandong revised the heritage application scope for the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve following a request from the IUCN. The updated area, now entirely within the proposed Yellow River Delta National Park, has expanded from 560.62 to 879.88 square kilometers. This change ensures comprehensive protection of the habitat's authenticity and integrity.
