Meishan Dongpo Urban Wetland Park - Sichuan Province, China

Biogeographic region: Continental

Surface area: 69.48 hm²

Country: China

Region/Province: Meishan City, Sichuan province

With the development philosophy of “Stride over the river toward the east and construct around the river” introduced by Meishan city, Dongpo Island on east side of main city of Meishan city becomes the new development centre, which is positioned as an important ecological leisure oasis in Meishan central recreational area (CRD) and urban core area. It plays a major role in passing down the cultural context of old city and driving the cultural development and overall development of the new district.

Meishan Dongpo Urban Wetland Park is located in the northwest of Dongpo Island. With a total area of 69.48hm², it is the largest core green space on Dongpo Island and also the starting project of Dongpo Island construction. With a mix of wetland conservation, science and cultural education, and rest and recreation, it is a typical urban wetland park. Dongpo Urban Wetland Park was officially started to construction since the beginning of 2014, and was officially open to the public on 31st 12, 2014.

The spatial structure planning of the park is divided into one axis (water moon central cultural axis in Dongpo), two belts (walking belt along the Bin Lake and water moon science and culture ecological belt), and five zones (wetland resting zone, wetland science and culture zone, recreational activity zone, ceremony activity zone and cultural activity zone).

Dongpo Wetland Park aims to allow for the provision of connected multifunctional green spaces and to ensure the sustainable development of the city while retaining the original wetland environment.

It further aims to provide a new green and open leisure space for urban residents. The original wetland has been preserved with the aim to maintain regional biodiversity and to improve the water quality of the area.

Project delivered services and monies raised by project:

The Environment Impact Assessment of the project was conducted by The University of Tongji

City, regional general funds:

This project was funded by the state-owned company (Meishan Development Holding Co., Ltd.)

Other:

The total investment was about 800 million RMB (from state-owned company investment).

Now, Dongpo Urban Wetland Park has started the construction of new green space, and the new part is the supplement and extension of Dongpo Urban Wetland Park. It includes the green space in the north of the East District of Dongpo Urban Wetland Park, with an area of 4.51ha, and the southern green space of the Eastern District of Dongpo Urban Wetland Park, with an area of 2.84ha. The new green space investment plan is 34.5354-49.8022 million yuan.

PRINCIPLE UF-NbS (Urban Forests as Nature-Based Solutions) ACTION(S)

• Preserving the native wetland forests during urbanisation
• Water environment has been improved through the upgrade of water quality in urban wetland forest
• Enhanced well-being of urban citizens through the construction of urban forest wetland
• Increased biodiversity in urban landscape

OTHER PRINCIPLE NbS ACTION(S) – non-UF

• Provides sites for environmental education, such as accessible sunken wetlands, which can be used to observe habitats in underwater wetland.

Under the guidance of the government (at the initial stage, the public demands were less considered, although the decision of the government is completely correct), the original environment has been successfully preserved and integrated into the development of the new city area. Dongpo Urban wetland park has preserved the wetland habitat for animals and created green leisure space for the citizens. Most importantly, the water quality environment of the city has been greatly improved. This case provides a good reference for other cities to solve such contradictions in the process of urbanization.

1.  Governing authorities: Meishan Government, Dongpo District Government.

2. Associations: non-government associations

3. Citizens: residents form neighbourhood, volunteers, employee

4. Municipalities: Municipality of Meishan

5. Public/private institutions: Meishan Government, Dongpo District Government, no private institutions

6. Park planner and authorities: The University of Tongji

7.Technicians for park maintenance/monitoring and to educate and support citizens: Meishan Government, Dongpo District Government, Environmental Education Department.

Meishan Forestry Bureau, Meishan City, Sichuan province, China.

Tel: + 86 (028)38197843341

The compilation of this case study description has been funded by the Horizon 2020 CLEARING HOUSE project. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 821242.