The coastal city of Shenzhen will prohibit hunting citywide beginning July 1 to protect wildlife. It's the next step in an effort to ensure diversity of species following a decision to permanently ban fishing at Shenzhen Bay from May 1.

Prohibited hunting areas have been expanded from the previously designated natural reserves, sightseeing areas, forest parks and country parks to the whole city, according to an official circular issued by the Shenzhen government.

Newly added areas will be closed to hunting for five years, to June 30, 2019, according to the circular.

According to the city's wildlife protection center, the semitropical city is home to more than 480 species of wild animals, including 389 species of birds, with around 50 species on the nation's protected-species list, including pangolin, macaque, black-faced spoonbills and Chinese egret.

Birds are hunted most, in general to supply restaurants.

The city lies on the migration path of birds from East Asia to Australia. More than 100,000 birds will rest in the city, or even spend the winter there, according to the Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation, a public foundation for environmental protection.

It has provided opportunities for bird hunters to set up nets to capture birds for restaurants, an activity that raised public concerns after it was reported by local media last year.

Under the new rules, people who capture 20 birds or more could face criminal charges. At that level, the activity would be classified as a "serious offense".

"We have seen that the city government is making big efforts to promote ecological civilization, but it needs greater determination to solve the problems between the ecology and economic development," the foundation said in a prepared statement.

The local government decided to ban fishing and breeding in a Shenzhen Bay area of 23 square kilometers from May 1 this year to restore a healthy ecological environment.

According to the Shenzhen Urban Management Bureau, the city has allocated 8 million yuan ($1.28 million) to make a thorough investigation of its wild animal and plant resources from 2013. The study is expected to be completed in three years.

That move, coupled with the hunting ban, is expected to give a clear picture of the status of wildlife in Shenzhen and help to protect the city's diversity of species.

chenhong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 06/26/2014 page6)