Egrets perch around Yundang Lake. CHEN XIAORONG/FOR CHINA DAILY

'Chopstick' technology

To address these challenges, researchers at Xiamen University developed a patented chopstick seedling technology.

"A seedling without enough height has difficulty surviving. We use a chopstick to raise the height of the seedling so its survival rate has become higher," Yang said.

The research team conducts regular monitoring to ensure the growth of the plant.

These efforts have revived the once-dwindling mangrove areas and increased protection of vital coastal ecosystems, providing a sanctuary for thousands of egrets during the nesting season.

Chinese modernization aims for harmonious coexistence between people and nature. Respecting nature, and conforming to and protecting it are requirements of this belief, the ministry said while commenting on the environmental protection practices in place in Xiamen.

Luo Ming, director of the Ministry of Natural Resources' Key Laboratory of Consolidation and Rehabilitation, said Xiamen adopted nature-based solutions to mitigate environmental damage at every stage of the restoration project, be it planning, design or implementation.

"With more people and less land, Xiamen's water resources are scarce, so sustainable development is extremely critical," she said. "Habitat loss resulting from extensive urban development, such as the filling of lakes in Xiamen, used to be a challenge."

Global ecosystem restoration standards focus on eliminating threats, establishing local ecosystems and reconnecting restored ecosystems with their external environments, she said, adding that's how Xiamen achieved its goals.

The effectiveness of this approach relies on enhancing urban resilience in the face of climate change, promoting "sponge land" for sustainable water management and protecting biodiversity by restoring natural habitats for species like migratory egrets.

Xiamen also managed to achieve its environmental protection targets without sacrificing economic growth. The city only accounts for 1.4 percent of Fujian's land area, but in 2022 it accounted for 14.7 percent of the province's GDP, up from 13.2 percent in 2000. Nearly half of the province's import and export value was from the city, and the per capita disposable annual income in Xiamen was about 68,000 yuan in 2022.

Meanwhile, the water quality compliance rate of major river basins has been maintained at 100 percent for many years, the local government said.