Project Background

Futian Mangrove Ecological Park is located at the estuary where the Xinzhou River and Shenzhen River meet, covering an area of approximately 380,000 square meters. It includes a 1,026-square-meter science exhibition hall and various natural science facilities. To the north, the park borders the Futian central business district in Shenzhen, to the west, it adjoins the Guangdong Neilingding Island-Futian National Nature Reserve, and to the south, it lies across a river from Hong Kong’s Mai Po Nature Reserve. It serves as an ecological corridor and buffer zone between two internationally important wetlands of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and is an essential part of the Shenzhen Bay wetland ecosystem.

The ecological park was built by the Futian District People’s Government and is managed by the Futian District Water Affairs Bureau. The Mangrove Conservation Foundation (MCF) was entrusted with the operation and management of the park. It is the first municipal park in China to be operated by a non-profit organization. Since its official opening in December 2015, the park has been exploring and practicing a socialized conservation model that combines government involvement, professional institutions, and public participation. In 2021, the park was selected by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Ministry of Science and Technology as Shenzhen’s first National Ecological Environment Science Popularization Base. In 2022, during the Convention of the Parties (COP) to the Ramsar Convention, it was named one of the first global "Star Wetland Education Centers."

As an important stopover for migratory birds in the East Asia-Australasia Flyway (EAAF), the ecological park offers beautiful scenery where fish swim in shallow waters and waterfowl gracefully glide through the air. It connects people, the city, and the mangrove wetlands. The park is open to the public for free, offering a range of nature-based activities and environmental protection actions, attracting approximately 1.3 million visitors annually.

The "Futian District Mangrove Science Education Program for Primary and Secondary School Students" operates in the park, benefiting 88 schools in Futian. The ecological park is not only a habitat for migratory birds, mangroves, and other wetland species, but also a green space for local residents to relax and connect with nature. It is a "wild paradise" for nature lovers seeking to explore the outdoors in the bustling city.

Mangroves are a type of evergreen tree or shrub, typically found in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coastal areas. Characterized by red mangrove species, these plant communities are often referred to as "sea forests." Mangroves play a vital role in protecting coastlines from storms, purifying water, storing carbon, regulating climate, maintaining biodiversity, and promoting ecotourism. They are an essential part of coastal wetland ecosystems. However, under the pressures of global climate change and human activities, mangrove ecosystems have been severely degraded. In the latter half of the 20th century, the global mangrove area decreased by 35%, while China lost 73% of its mangroves. Therefore, it is urgent to address the reduction in mangrove area, the degradation of their ecological functions, and the decline in biodiversity through the protection and restoration of mangrove wetlands.

Project Mission

The mission is to create an environment conducive to the growth of plants and animals, protect the wildlife living here, and ensure that future generations can enjoy the vibrant environment of the park. This will also inspire a sense of environmental care in people, while improving their quality of life.

Key Focus Area One: Exploring Socialized Ecological Management Models

Since 2015, the Mangrove Conservation Foundation (MCF) has been entrusted by the Futian District Government to fully manage and operate the Futian Mangrove Ecological Park (hereinafter referred to as the "Ecological Park"). Effective operation and management of the Ecological Park is not only part of the Foundation’s commitment but also an opportunity to establish a “non-profit organization-operated park” model.

Through practical exploration in the Ecological Park, the goal is twofold: on one hand, to create a successful model for “non-profit organization management of protected areas,” and to develop a system for creating and operating ecological spaces that can be replicated and applied to other public ecological areas; on the other hand, to promote urban biodiversity concepts and technologies through landscape and facility projects, encouraging more urban parks, green spaces, and waterfront areas to be naturalized and ecologically managed, thus enhancing urban biodiversity.

Key Focus Area Two: Leveraging Technology for Scientific Protection

• Invasive Species Control: The foundation has conducted a series of invasive species control efforts, including the management and restoration of approximately 18 hectares of non-native mangrove species in the Shenzhen estuary, effectively curbing the spread of invasive plants.

• Ecological Restoration: Focused on the "ecological positioning" of the park, ongoing restoration projects include the improvement of sponge city demonstration areas, freshwater wetland zones, bird habitats for species such as the black-faced spoonbill, large lakes, and surrounding ecological landscape zones, as well as honey source areas. These efforts represent the ongoing stability of the estuarine mangrove wetland ecosystem and the gradual restoration of the Shenzhen river basin ecosystem. The Ecological Park has become a key ecological corridor and habitat for wildlife in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

• Ecological Monitoring: The park now records five species of nationally protected wildlife (Grade I), including the yellow-breasted bunting, white-shouldered eagle, black-faced spoonbill, Eurasian eagle-owl, and small civet. Additionally, 39 species of Grade II protected wildlife (including birds, mammals, and reptiles) have been recorded. As of November 2023, vascular plant species have increased from 307 to 754, including 22 species of mangroves, which account for 57% of the national mangrove species. Insects have increased from 109 species to 1,224, and bird species have increased from 83 to 220.

• Ecosystem Services Valuation: The Ecological Park provides an annual ecological service value of 192 million yuan, which is 7.43 times the per-hectare GEP (Gross Ecosystem Product) value of Shenzhen. The park conserves approximately 723,000 cubic meters of water annually, reduces cooling energy consumption by 3,009 kWh, and mitigates urban stormwater runoff by 140,000 cubic meters. Within a 2-kilometer radius, the park provides landscape enhancement services for around 1.5 million square meters of building space.

Key Focus Area Three: Encouraging Public Action for Wetland Protection and Sustainable Use

The park features creative educational spaces such as the "Green Bay Education Trail," "Forest Chief Publicity Square," and species interpretation signs, offering diverse scientific displays.

We continuously organize large-scale thematic activities, including "The Return of the Spoonbills," "Bringing Otters Home," and "Nature Carnival." The park also offers public-focused activities such as "Mangrove Storytelling Sessions," "A Day as a Caretaker," and "Guided Tours of the Science Museum," as well as wetland education courses targeting schools, focusing on themes like otters, mangroves, and birds. As a national science education base, the park actively participates in national science outreach activities, including Science Popularization Week, World Water Day, Bird Week, and other ecological and environmental protection initiatives.

The park emphasizes community collaboration, volunteer services, and a multi-faceted approach to telling the ecological story. The volunteer team is a vital force supporting the park’s diverse wetland education programs. By the end of 2023, the park had 542 volunteers. The volunteer management system has evolved into a model consisting of core tour guides, community volunteers as the foundation, student volunteers as the next tier, and specialized volunteers adding unique value. With the support of Shenzhen Volunteer Federation’s management system and the Mangrove Conservation Foundation (MCF) volunteer management framework, the park has established a mature volunteer system and operational guidelines.