New Chinese migratory bird sanctuaries added to UNESCO World Heritage List

Five nominated sites of the migratory bird sanctuaries along the coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China successfully passed the review process Friday to be included on the World Heritage List by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The decision was made during the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, India, according to China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

According to UNESCO, the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II) is a serial extension of the property of the same name that is already listed on the World Heritage List. The newly-admitted five sites are part of Phase II, while Phase I sanctuaries were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2019.

As part of the world's largest intertidal wetland system, this area within the Yellow Sea Ecoregion provides vital habitats for birds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which stretches across approximately 25 countries from the Arctic to Southeast Asia and Australasia.

The wetlands serve a unique ecological function as indispensable stopover sites for millions of waterbirds, said UNESCO.