An elk. ZHANG CHENLIN/XINHUA

Blessed with an extensive network of rivers and lakes, a unique natural ecosystem, and robust functions for sustaining life that releases oxygen, sequesters carbon, and purifies the environment, the Yangtze River plays an irreplaceable role in safeguarding China's critical biological gene pool and ensuring its ecological security.

As a key national biological gene pool, the Yangtze River Basin spans tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate zones, featuring complex landforms and diverse ecosystem types. Among its ecologically vital areas, the forest ecosystems in the river valleys of western Sichuan, the evergreen broad-leaved forests in southern subtropical regions, and the wetlands in the Yangtze's middle and lower reaches stand as globally significant priority zones for biodiversity conservation.

A golden monkey. CHINA DAILY

Notably, the wetlands serve as a crucial stopover and wintering grounds for over 100 species and millions of migratory waterbirds. The basin is also home to rare animals like the Chinese sturgeon, finless porpoise, and Yangtze alligator, as well as rare plants including the Chinese fir, dawn redwood, and dove tree, making it a major concentration of China's rare and endangered wildlife.

Hubei, boasting the longest stretch of the Yangtze River's shoreline, has consistently taken on the political responsibility of high-standard ecological protection. During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the province strengthened coordinated ecological governance and deepened joint prevention and control efforts across 19 key river basins.

To date, it has completed the remediation of 12,462 discharge outlets into the Yangtze River, effectively boosting the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the river's ecosystem.

CHINA DAILY

A Yangtze alligator. CHINA DAILY

A wild yak. KUNGA LEZANG/CHINA NEWS SERVICE

A Chinese sturgeon. CHINA DAILY

A Chinese dove tree.CHINA DAILY