Southwest China's Yunnan province ranked highest in the country for wetland biodiversity with 563,500 hectares of wetlands, according to a provincial government report.
Yunnan harbors four types of wetlands, representing all types of inland freshwater wetlands found in the country. The province is home to 241,800 hectares of riverine wetlands, 118,500 hectares of lake wetlands, 32,200 hectares of marsh wetlands and 171,000 hectares of artificial wetlands.
Yunnan's wetland animal and plant species topped the country in number. Its wetlands are home to 2,274 species of higher plants and 1,006 species of vertebrates.
Aimed at easing the shrinking and pollution of wetlands, Yunnan is striving to restore natural wetland ecosystems and protect the province's unique wetland varieties.
