What impact will the construction of Yangshan Deepwater Port have on the ecosystem of the Yangtze Estuary?

Tidal flat wetlands in estuaries, island wetlands in estuaries, low-lying wetlands in lakes and rivers, and artificial wetlands make up the total number of wetlands in Shanghai. Shanghai is located in the Yangtze River Delta and has unique estuary tidal wetland resources. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai encircled 840 square kilometers (1.26 million acres) of tidal flats, expanding Shanghai's land area by 14%. In recent years, Shanghai's tidal flat resources have remained at 667 square kilometers (1 million acres) above Wusong's base level of 0 meters and 2,400 square kilometers (3.6 million acres) above -5 meters. Shanghai's tidal flat resources have a unique role and status in the sustainable use and protection of land resources. How to transform the rich tidal flat resource advantages in Shanghai's estuary area into commodity advantages, economic advantages and ecological advantages to enhance the comprehensiveness of an international metropolis? Competitive strength has become a hot topic. Based on the characteristics of the Yangtze River estuary, this article first analyzes the differences between enclosing the estuary tidal flats and general river and lake enclosure projects, and reveals the historical law of sedimentation and land formation at the Yangtze River estuary. Secondly, the construction of the Shanghai International Airport, the construction of the rear base of the Shanghai Shipping Center Deep Water Port, the adjustment of Shanghai's industrial structure, the construction of a modern agricultural ecological park, the creation of an ecological environment in which humans and nature live in harmony, and the management of the Yangtze River Estuary, etc. Contributions were discussed. Finally, from the perspective of sustainable utilization of estuary tidal flat resources, in view of the current contradiction between the protection and development and utilization of estuary tidal flat resources, we respectively strengthen the legal concept and improve the awareness of protection; establish the dynamic protection principles of rational utilization; compile the development and utilization of estuary tidal flat resources. Plan to achieve sustainable utilization of tidal flat resources; strengthen efforts to promote sedimentation and optimize the ecological environment; implement long-term management of estuary tidal flat resources to achieve simultaneous improvement of economic, social and ecological benefits; strengthen scientific research work and reduce negative effects Impact and other aspects were discussed. Through analysis and research, this article believes: without tidal flats, there would be no Shanghai yesterday; without tidal flats, there would be no Shanghai today; give full play to the location advantages of estuary tidal flat resources to build a better tomorrow for Shanghai.

Keywords: Protection and utilization of tidal flat resources

1. The estuary tidal flat resources in Shanghai are different from general tidal flat resources

The Yangtze River estuary is directly connected to the East China Sea, so The estuary and tidal flat enclosure projects in Shanghai are different from the river or lake enclosure projects in inland areas. The most obvious consequences of river or lake reclamation projects in inland areas are blocked flood drainage channels and damage to the ability to regulate and store floods, causing floods. Therefore, our country's laws and regulations strictly prohibit the reclamation of such tidal flats (those that have been reclaimed must still be reclaimed). The Yangtze River estuary in the Shanghai area is at the end of the Yangtze River, and there is no problem affecting flood discharge. As long as scientific planning, appropriate enclosure, and coordination with ecological and environmental protection are required, land resources can be obtained to expand the projectile area. The living space and development space of the earth and sea.

According to historical data, about four thousand years ago, all of Baoshan, Pudong, and Nanhui and most of Jiading, Minhang, and Fengxian did not exist. The formation of Chongming Island was much more recent, and Shanghai Beach and Shanghai Beach were formed more recently. , as the name suggests, this beautiful city of Shanghai is built on the estuary tidal flats. 62% of Shanghai's land area was formed by the sediment accumulation of the Yangtze River in the past two thousand years. The geographical location of Shanghai's urban area was still a vast ocean two or three thousand years ago. The ebb and flow of water caused the sediment carried by the Yangtze River to The sand silted up to form a tidal flat. When the previous fishermen discovered this "New World", they set up camp by enclosing the tidal flat. From the formation of a small fishing village to the liberation, it became a paradise for adventurers in the ten-mile ocean field. Today, Shanghai has built a prosperous international city. city. Shanghai has a long tidal flat culture.

The estuary of the Yangtze River has its own development model and evolution rules. The estuary of the Yangtze River has moved from the Zhenjiang area where the legendary White Snake and Xu Xian made a fuss at Jinshan Temple due to their deep love, causing the sea water to surge, to today's Shanghai. The development of tidal flats in the Yangtze River Estuary is amidst the dynamic changes of nature. According to the evolution law of the Yangtze River Estuary, the working people of past generations have reclaimed the swollen tidal flats again and again to form seawalls one after another, thus gaining survival and The development space has also turned barren desert beaches into rich golden coasts. The changes in Shanghai's mainland coastline are the best evidence of this. Therefore, the development history of Shanghai is, to a certain extent, a very spectacular history of reclamation. Without tidal flats, there would be no yesterday in Shanghai.

2. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, especially during the “Ninth Five-Year Plan” period, the city’s tidal flat resources played a huge role in Shanghai’s ecological construction and economic construction

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China** * Encircling 1.31 million acres (873 square kilometers) of tidal flats has expanded Shanghai’s land area by 14%. The enclosed tidal flat area is approximately the combined land area of ??Jiading and Minhang Districts. Among them, during the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" period, about 180,000 acres (120 square kilometers) of tidal flats were enclosed and 250,000 acres (167 square kilometers) of tidal flats were promoted.

Shanghai has used the enclosed tidal flats to establish a large number of farm reclamation areas, factories and enterprises, municipal facilities and nature reserves. The rational development and utilization of tidal flats can alleviate the land shortage in Shanghai (including the enclosed tidal flat area, Shanghai still has The net reduction of cultivated land is about 1.6 million acres), ensuring the sustained and stable development of agricultural production, enhancing agricultural stamina, prospering the Shanghai market, cooperating with the municipal government's industrial structure adjustment, promoting the growth of industrial output value, stabilizing the Yangtze River estuary river regime, improving the navigation conditions of the Yangtze River estuary, and optimizing the ecology The environment and other aspects have played an important role, and the social, economic and ecological benefits produced are very obvious, as can be seen from the following examples.

2.1. The construction of the airport is inseparable from the tidal flats

The construction of Pudong International Airport is based on the development of Pudong and the need to build Shanghai into an international economic, financial and trade center. " During the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, the city used tidal flat resources to build 28,000 acres (nearly 20 square kilometers) of land for the airport enclosure and built a 15-kilometer-long safety barrier, the seawall, which promptly provided land resources for airport construction. Today, Pudong International Airport The second phase of the project has been included in the city's 10th Five-Year Plan and is under construction.

2.2. The construction of deep-water ports and shipping centers is inseparable from tidal flats

Shanghai Port is the third largest port in the world, and its container throughput accounts for about 1/4 of the country. In 2001, Shanghai The port’s container throughput reached 6.34 million TEUs, ranking sixth in the world. At present, most of the container terminals in Shanghai Port are built using the tidal flat resources of the Gold Coast.

The construction of the Shanghai International Shipping Center Yangshan Deep Water Port Area is the basis for realizing the goal of Shanghai becoming an international economic, financial, and trade center. In order to cooperate with the construction of the Yangshan Deep Water Port Area, with advanced awareness, the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" "During this period, a siltation promotion project was carried out on the tidal flat at the intersection of Nanhui in a timely manner to speed up the siltation of the tidal flat. Currently, about 20,000 acres (13 square kilometers) of land have been enclosed. It is planned to enclose another tidal flat on the Nanhui beach this year. More than 100,000 acres (67 square kilometers) have prepared for the construction of the new seaport city, the rear base of Yangshan Deepwater Port, and laid the foundation for the construction of Yangshan Port Area.

2.3. The adjustment of the industrial structure is inseparable from the tidal flats

The old chemical enterprises in Shanghai have polluted the city’s environment to a great extent. They need to be renovated in conjunction with the relocation of polluting enterprises in the urban area. , while realizing the adjustment of industrial structure, it is the established policy of the municipal government to beautify Shanghai's living environment, strive to create an ecological city, and comprehensively enhance the comprehensive competitiveness of Shanghai's economy. In the 1970s, Shanghai used the tidal flats along the northern coast of Hangzhou Bay to build the Shanghai Petrochemical Plant with an output value of over 10 billion yuan; during the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" period, Shanghai used the tidal flats in the Caojing area on the northern coast of Hangzhou Bay to create 15,000 acres (10 square kilometers) of land. , providing a base for the construction of a world-class Shanghai Chemical Industry Park. In addition, the world's largest port machinery production base and my country's largest large-scale shipbuilding base with the most advanced technical facilities are also built on the tidal flats on the south coast of Changxing Island and Pudong Waigaoqiao tidal flats respectively.

2.4. Provide pure land for the construction of modern agricultural ecological parks

About half of the land on Chongming Island was formed through reclamation of tidal flats after the founding of the People's Republic of China. It has the three characteristics of pure soil, pure water and pure air. Net features: Shanghai utilizes Chongming Dongtan reclaimed land to build SI Chongming Ecological Park. SI Chongming Ecological Park will showcase the style of world agriculture, explore the direction of Chinese agriculture, and become a window for the municipal government to overseas.

2.5. Use the advantages of tidal flat resources to create an ecological environment where man and nature can live in harmony

Previous municipal party committees and municipal governments have attached great importance to the protection and rational development of tidal flat resources in this city. In order to achieve the coordinated development of economy, society, population, resources and environment despite the huge pressure on reserve resources, during the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" period, three nature reserves were designated from very precious tidal flats and allocated from the finance. A certain amount of funds will be allocated to carry out substantial activation of key protected areas and strengthen the construction of the ecological environment.

Chongming Dongtan Bird Nature Reserve is located at the estuary of the Yangtze River in the east of Chongming Island, right in the middle of the east line of the north-south migration of migratory birds in the Asia-Pacific region. With the extension of tidal flats and the dynamic changes of vegetation succession, migratory birds and rare birds The habitats and breeding areas on the tidal flats have also changed accordingly, so the Chongming Dongtan Bird Nature Reserve is dynamic (the Yancheng Red-crowned Crane Reserve has seen fewer birds due to the continuous siltation of the tidal flats, and its protected areas have to move to the sea). Translation 5 kilometers).

Jiuduansha Wetland (tidal flat is a type of wetland) Nature Reserve is located opposite Pudong New Area. Jiuduansha has become the "third generation" Chongming Island (Changxing Island and Hengsha Island are called "second generation" Chongming Island) is a historical necessity for the evolution of the Yangtze River Estuary. In addition, a Chinese sturgeon reserve, known as a "living fossil", will be built on the tidal flats of the Yangtze River estuary.

Greening plays an important role in improving the ecological climate of cities and regions and reducing air pollution. While the government is accelerating the pace of greening in urban areas, it has also used tidal flats to build Chuansha Forest Farm and Sanshan Forest Park. Chagang Nursery and Chongming Dongping National Forest Park, the largest plain artificial forest park in East China so far, Shanghai Century Forest Park and Nanhui Coastal Forest Park under construction also occupy 16,000 acres (10.7 square kilometers) of tidal reclaimed land respectively. More than 5,000 acres (3.3 square kilometers). In addition, the city government allocated special funds to build a protective forest belt on the seawall and tidal flats, building a "green barrier" with an average width of about 20 meters. In order to make Shanghai's sky bluer, its water clearer, and its land greener, the municipal government not only uses the tidal flats to carry out a large amount of greening, but also uses the tidal flats to build multiple sewage treatment plants and power plant desulfurization workshops that can effectively reduce airborne dust and prevent acid rain. .

2.6. The role of reclamation of tidal flats in the management of the Yangtze River estuary

Reclamation of tidal flats is closely related to the management of the Yangtze River estuary. In the 1960s, the Xuliujing River section of the southern branch narrowed the 13-kilometer river surface to 5 kilometers through reclamation of tidal flats, forming the Xuliujing node; in the 1970s, the Shushu Beach tidal flat at the head of Chongming Island was reclaimed, and these two areas The tidal flat reclamation has basically stabilized the first branch of the river mouth - the North Branch and the South Branch. In the 1960s and 1970s, through reclamation, several tidal flats and sandbars scattered in the southern branch of the Yangtze River were merged and connected to form today's Changxing Island, and the wandering Hengsha Island was fixed, thus making the second level of the estuary Branch - The complexity of the water and sediment distribution of the Beigang and Nangang branches has been reduced, and the main reason why it has been difficult to enter the main channel of the sea in the past century has been basically eliminated. In the future, scientific protection and appropriate reclamation of Jiuduansha and Hengsha shoals will be more conducive to the management of the Yangtze Estuary waterway. With the development of the Yangtze River Estuary deep-water channel regulation project, the policy of regulating the estuary will be adjusted from the past three-combination of "regulatory, dredged, and reclamation" to the three-combination of "reclamation, regulation, and dredging". Reclamation is given priority in the process of regulating the Yangtze River Estuary. .

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, especially during the “Ninth Five-Year Plan” period, under the correct leadership of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, the development and utilization of tidal flat resources in this city has made important contributions to all fronts and industries. Without tidal flats, there would be no There would be no Shanghai today.

3. Contradictions in the protection and development of estuary tidal flat resources

3.1. Tidal flat resources are the only reserve land resources in this city

Labor It is the father of wealth, and land is the mother of wealth. Land is the source of all production and all existence. The biggest difference between land resources and other resources is the immovable nature of land. The shortage of land in Shanghai will be a bottleneck restricting the city's economic development. In order to ensure the dynamic balance of cultivated land, our country implements the most stringent land use policy. The occupied cultivated land must be occupied one for one, and satellites are used to monitor the land use situation across the country.

The per capita cultivated land in this city is less than 0.35 acres, which is 1/5 of the per capita cultivated land in my country (1.6 acres/person) and 1/11 of the world’s per capita cultivated land (3.75 acres/person). The area of ??cultivated land cannot be reduced anymore. Protecting cultivated land means protecting our lives. However, if the metropolis needs to continue to develop, construction requires land, and the planned urban area will expand to 156 square kilometers (230,000 acres). Where does the land come from? Tidal flat resources are the only potential land resources in this city. In the 1980s, a comprehensive survey of Shanghai's coastal zone and tidal flat resources found that the area of ??tidal flats above 3 meters above Wusong's base level was 135,000 acres, 1.03 million acres above 0 meters, and 3.51 million acres above -5 meters; in the past 20 years, Among them, Shanghai has reclaimed 440,000 acres of tidal flats. However, according to current data, Shanghai’s tidal flat area above 3 meters has reached 165,000 acres after accelerated siltation, 995,000 acres above 0 meters, and 3.615 million acres above -5 meters. The tidal flat resources of the Yangtze Estuary Maintain a dynamic balance. The city's estuary tidal flat resources have basically remained at 1 million acres above 0 meters and 3.5 million acres above -5 meters for decades. The potential is self-evident, but there are not many high beach resources anymore.

3.2. The ecological and environmental protection of tidal flat resources has attracted more and more attention

With the improvement of the quality of life, people are paying more and more attention to ecological and environmental issues. In some places along the coast, inappropriate The reclamation has caused the destruction of mangroves and coral reefs, and the poaching and poisoning of birds that inhabit the city's tidal flats by criminals has aroused a high degree of vigilance among knowledgeable people about tidal flat reclamation. As a type of wetland, our country is a party to the International Convention on Ramsar. Protecting the city's estuary tidal flats is of great significance and role in protecting biodiversity, degrading pollutants, and developing tourism and tourism. Regarding how to protect the city's tidal flat resources, there are questions about whether tidal flat reclamation can continue.

Regarding the protection, development and utilization of tidal flat resources, their basic requirements (development is the primary condition) and safety requirements (improving the quality of life, natural resources and the natural environment must not be destroyed to challenge the safety of survival) have become A pair of contradictions.

4. How to better resolve the contradiction between the protection and development of tidal flat resources in the Shanghai estuary area

4.1. Get rid of the extreme misunderstanding of "development or protection is more important" and establish The dynamic protection principle of "protect according to law and rationally utilize"

The Yangtze River runoff carries nearly 400 million tons of sediment into the Yangtze River Estuary every year, about half of which is deposited in the Yangtze River Estuary and the north bank of Hangzhou Bay. Therefore, the estuary tidal flats " The days are long and the nights are long.” According to statistical analysis, the northern edge of Chongming Island is silting up to the north at an average rate of 142 meters per year; the siltation rate at the 0-meter line of Nanhui Beach is 86 meters per year on average; and the east beach of Chongming Island has an obvious trend of "rapid encirclement and rapid growth". Characteristically, its average annual growth rate is 150 to 350 meters toward the East China Sea.

Since the Yangtze River Estuary is blessed with tidal flat resources that are constantly silting up, turning barren tidal flats into fertile farmland and oases, and transforming the primary natural ecological environment into an advanced artificial ecological environment that is more conducive to human survival can bring benefits. For the people of Shanghai, it is impossible for society to develop without touching the natural world. But we cannot over-reclam tidal flats. The growth of tidal flats follows a pattern and takes a certain amount of time. Excessive reclamation is not conducive to the ecological construction of Shanghai. In addition, since our country has joined the International Convention on Wetlands, we must establish our country's implementation of relevant international conventions. A healthy and good international image will help exert greater influence in the international arena.

According to the nature protection regulations, protected areas should take into account the integrity and appropriateness of protected objects, as well as the needs of local economic construction and residents' production and life. In view of the actual situation of this city and the nature of the continuous siltation of tidal flat resources in the Shanghai estuary area, we implement a dynamic protection policy for the tidal flat resources in this city, so as not to destroy the ecological environment of tidal flat resources in pursuit of rapid economic and social development, nor for the sake of one-sidedness. Emphasis is placed on protecting the ecological environment of tidal flat resources and inhibiting the city's economic and social development.

In addition, according to the definition of wetland, the estuary tidal flats become islands through reasonable development and still belong to the category of wetlands, just like Chongming Island, Changxing Island and Hengsha Island, although these three islands have long been enclosed into a mainland. , but they are still included in the list of important wetlands in China. The rational development of estuary tidal flats, the construction of tidal flats and estuary wetland protection demonstration areas, and the creation of artificial wetland ecological environments have been included in China's wetland protection action plan.

4.2. Strengthen legal concepts and improve protection awareness

Shanghai was the first country in the country to formulate the Shanghai Interim Regulations on Tidal Flat Management in the form of legislation in 1987. In 1997, it was upgraded to management regulations. The tidal flat administrative department is assigned the four major management functions of siltation promotion, enclosure, utilization and protection of the city's tidal flats. Shanghai has implemented the regulations on tidal flat management since 1987, making the management and utilization of the city's tidal flat resources legally enforceable. , a good situation with rules to follow, orderly development and effective protection. In the face of the new situation in the 21st century, we must continue to strengthen the publicity of the importance of wetland protection and rational utilization, raise the general public's awareness of protecting tidal flat resources, and punish unauthorized reclamation units. Take serious action with individuals to ensure that tidal flat resources are not damaged.

4.3. Prepare development and protection plans to achieve sustainable utilization of tidal flat resources

The sustainable utilization of tidal flat resources is characterized by economic sustainability, ecological sustainability, and social sustainability. In order to realize tidal flat resources Sustainable utilization of resources. During the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" period, the city's functional departments promptly prepared the "Investigation Report on the Use of Tidal Flats in Shanghai", "Research Report on the Development and Utilization Planning of Shanghai's Tidal Flats", "Research Report on the Development and Utilization of Tidal Flat Resources in Shanghai and Environmental Issues" in a timely manner "Ecological Construction Planning Report" proposed six basic principles for the protection and development of tidal flat resources in this city. These six principles have been widely recognized and are called the four-one-one principle by the environmental protection department (four combinations, one adaptation and one coordination). After analysis and research, on the basis of protection, the city's goals and tasks of promoting siltation of 1.1 million acres (733.3 square kilometers) of tidal flats and enclosing 600,000 acres (400 square kilometers) of tidal flats by 2010 were proposed. After listening to experts and departments in various fields After receiving the opinions, this task has been included in the "Shanghai Land Use Master Plan" prepared by the municipal government and approved by the State Council. Recently, in accordance with the municipal government's instructions to "straighten out relationships, clarify responsibilities, determine goals, and accelerate progress" in the development and protection of tidal flat resources, the city has revised the original Shanghai tidal flat development and utilization plan.

4.4. Strengthen efforts to promote sedimentation and optimize the ecological environment

At present, there are not many high beach resources in this city, but the resources of middle and low beaches are very rich. With the development of science and technology, new With the application of technology, new materials, new technologies, and new methods in sedimentation-promoting projects, the sedimentation-promoting effect of tidal flats will continue to improve. In the early stage of the siltation promotion project, the siltation thickness will reach about 1 meter per year, and the average annual siltation thickness will reach 20 to 30 centimeters. Strengthen the efforts to promote sedimentation and organically combine the two methods of promoting sedimentation. On the one hand, it will accelerate the sedimentation of the tidal flats and provide backup land resources for the city. It will promote sedimentation - encircle - and then promote sedimentation. It is a road to a virtuous cycle of land creation; on the other hand, the accelerated siltation of tidal flats is conducive to the protection of tidal flat resources, enriching the food chain in the tidal flat area for various animals and plants to live and reproduce, and establishing a benign ecological environment in the coastal zone. Strengthening efforts to promote sedimentation can not only develop, utilize, and consume tidal flat resources in the environment, but also create tidal flat resources and optimize the ecological environment.

4.5. Implement long-term management of estuary tidal flat resources to achieve simultaneous improvement of economic, social and ecological benefits

Long-term management is a new challenge faced by Shanghai in the new century. The topic, long-term management of tidal flat resources is to take potential land resources as the main target and transform the consequence-oriented mode of tidal flat resource management into a cause-oriented management mode. In-depth exploration of the management model of long-term management, and strive to achieve the simultaneous improvement of economic, social and ecological benefits. (Photographed by Zhou Yuansheng at Yangtze River Farm)

4.6. Strengthen scientific research and reduce negative impacts

The protection and comprehensive development and utilization of tidal flat resources is an extremely complex issue with many constraints. Therefore, we must put scientific research first, conduct in-depth research on the negative effects brought about by reclamation projects, and strive to control these effects within the range allowed by the affordability through scientific reclamation plans.

Correctly handle the contradiction between the protection and development of tidal flat resources, seek comprehensive, scientific and reasonable solutions that are in line with China's national conditions, the city's market conditions and international norms, and focus on "enhancing the "Comprehensive urban competitiveness" is the main line of Shanghai's "Tenth Five-Year Plan" development, giving full play to the location advantages of the city's tidal flat resources to build a better tomorrow for Shanghai.

5. The enlightenment of coastal beach development at home and abroad to Shanghai

my country has a long history of reclamation and development of coastal beaches. According to records, King Wu of the Western Han Dynasty began to use coastal beaches for development and utilization. , about 200 million acres of land in several major coastal estuaries originally belonged to ancient tidal flat areas, and formed the continent after thousands of years of continuous reclamation. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, our country has reclaimed approximately 18 million acres (12,000 square kilometers) of land from the sea. In recent years, my country's coastal provinces and cities have held high the banner of "promoting the sea through science and technology" and regarded the protection and rational development and utilization of coastal tidal flats as an important part of coastal zone development and march into the ocean. Under the premise of protection, they have formulated protection measures one after another. and strategies for the rational development and utilization of tidal flat resources. Macao, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, which are in short supply of land resources, have also developed rapidly in land reclamation.

Foreign sea reclamation development first started in the Netherlands. As early as the Roman era, the Dutch began to carry out small-scale reclamation along the North Sea. From 1250 to the beginning of the 20th century, large areas of coastal swamps were reclaimed. In the Netherlands, 1/ 3 of the land was developed through reclamation. The Zuiderzee Project and the Delta Project are two huge projects that are world-famous. At present, the Netherlands no longer carries out large-scale land reclamation projects from the sea. While proposing to return farmland to the sea, it envisages Build offshore artificial islands near the coast.

The British reclamation project was carried out after the introduction of Dutch reclamation technology in the 17th century; North Korea and South Korea used coastal tidal flats to carry out systematic large-scale land reclamation; Japan is an island country with a high population density , land resources are scarce, and the most eye-catching one is the construction of artificial islands along the coast. According to recent reports, more than 80 artificial islands have been built at sea. Even countries with relatively abundant land resources, such as France and the United Kingdom, have used coastal beaches for large-scale construction. A project whose scale competes with the sea for space.

Looking around the world, all coastal countries and regions with insufficient land resources have solved their land resource problems by reclaiming land from the sea