This aerial photo shows Xiatanwei Mangrove Coastal Wetland Ecological Park in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In recent years, the Xiatanwei Mangrove Coastal Wetland Ecological Park in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, has been transformed into a verdant barrier against typhoons and storm surges, owing to a series of mangrove restoration initiatives.

It has also become a popular leisure and recreational spot, drawing the attention of the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson, who has visited twice and lauded it as a model for mangrove restoration in addresses to global audiences.