Last updated: October 2024
In the 1980s, rapid industrialization, urban population growth, and increased water usage led to severe pollution in Dianchi Lake, exceeding its environmental capacity and significantly degrading its water quality (Ref 1). This deterioration had serious effects on nearby ecosystems, including Cuihu Lake (Ref 2). Cuihu Lake (翠湖), also known as Green Lake Park, is a well-known park and body of water in the center of Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. In Cuihu lake the decline in water quality caused a sharp reduction in native species like the golden line barb, which depend on the local ecosystem for survival, pushing them to near extinction and destabilizing the entire ecosystem (ibid.). To address this, several effective initiatives have been launched to restore Cuihu Lake’s ecosystem in recent years (Ref 2, 3). One of them was started in 2020 when a restoration project was initiated by the site's administration in collaboration with Dr. Li Weiwei’s team from the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The project focused on creating micro-habitats and restoring the aquatic ecosystem (ibid.). Ecosystem and biodiversity restoration efforts were conducted across a 5,000 m² area on the east side of Green Lake Park, covering approximately 1/27th of the lake (ibid.). As a result, more than 20 aquatic animal species are now thriving and contributing to water purification, while three submerged plant species cover over 50% of the project area (Ref 2, 3, 4). Bird diversity and numbers are also increasing, with species like white-breasted kingfishers, green-winged teals, and crested guinea-fowls returning to the area (ibid.). Additionally, there has been a significant improvement in water quality (ibid.).
Bird species at the Green Lake Park
Taken by 鹿儿lulu (Ref 6)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Poor water quality
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality, Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Habitat conservation, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Scientific research of biodiversity or ecosystems, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Habitat mapping, restoration and monitoring-focused management, Species-specific monitoring and conservation programs
Project objectives
To align with the ecological value of Cuihu Lake by addressing ecological restoration on three levels: biodiversity (micro-habitat creation), ecological patterns (aquatic ecosystem restoration), and ecosystem services (Ref 3).
To maintain existing water bird species and populations, while increasing the diversity and numbers of zooplankton, benthic animals, and native functional fish through AI monitoring, environmental DNA, and biodiversity soup technologies (environmental DNA sampling, bar-coding) (ibid.).
To strengthen Cuihu Lake's role as a key ecological node within Kunming's ecological network (ibid.).
To enhance ecosystem services by improving water purification, ecological recreation, and popular science education, ultimately offering higher-quality urban green spaces to citizens (Ref 2, 3, 4).
Implementation activities
- Conducting a comprehensive survey of urban biodiversity groups such as birds, aquatic organisms, insects and alien invasive species through new technologies such as AI intelligent monitoring and identification systems, environmental DNA technology, and biodiversity soup (Ref 3);
- Enclosing the ecological restoration project implementation area with fences, and removing most large and medium-sized carp fish (koi, etc.) to outside the project area (ibid.) . Porous materials used to build ecological piles in the project area to create a habitat for local organisms.
- Gradually adjusting the structure of the biological community to improve the quality of the ecosystem and the water landscape (ibid.). Maintaining the existing water bird species and numbers, and increasing the species and numbers of zooplankton, benthic animals and native functional fish.
- Over 20 aquatic animals now surviving and playing an ecological water purification role in the project area, and 3 submerged plants covering over 50% of the water area in the project area. The number and species of birds in the area growing steadily, including white-breasted kingfishers, green-winged teals, and bone-crested chickens.
- AI monitoring, environmental DNA and biodiversity soup technologies, and online public platform to track the dynamics, (ibid.). Regularly collecting water samples to monitor and record changes in aquatic organisms and surrounding birds.
- Organising educational activities for students (ibid.).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Means for conservation governance
- Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Researchers/University
- Young people and children
- Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Public sector institution
- Researchers/university
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
- Dissemination of information and education
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Green Lake Park restoration project is initiated by the Green Lake Park, managed by the local municipality, and Dr. Li Weiwei's team from the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2020 (Ref 3). A biodiversity conservation cooperation agreement was signed between them (Ref 2). For long term monitoring, the Kunming Institute of Zoology works in collaboration with the Institute of Semiconductors of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Zoological Association, carrying out related popular science videos and bird AI identification work monitoring in the last three years (ibid.). In addition, Longxiang Primary School, together with Yunnan Zoological Association (NGO) and Yunnan Liguo Nature Education (NGO), jointly carried out outdoor educational activities for students as part of the project (Ref 3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Yunnan Province Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2012–2030) (《云南省生物多样性保护战略与行动计划（2012—2030年）》) (Ref 2).)
Type of enablers
Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching), NBS research project (e.g., H2020, Urban Living Labs, national research projects)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Unknown
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Achieved improved water quality
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Achieved enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Achieved reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Achieved improved liveability
- Health and wellbeing
- Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Achieved enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Expected increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Achieved increased appreciation for natural spaces
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Li, Z. (2019). 滇池全湖水质状况转为轻度污染. China Environment News, Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Yu, H. (2024). 城市的生态“样板间”长啥样？昆明翠湖公园开展探索与实践. Yunnan Daily (云南日报), Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Xuan, R. (2024). 昆明翠湖打造城市生物多样性保护“样板间”. China Environment News, Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
4.
学习强国 (2023). 生态云南 | 消失了很多年，它再度现身昆明翠湖！. 学习强国, Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Long, Z. (2024). 翠湖公园举办生物多样性摄影展. Yunnan Daily (云南日报), Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
6.
鹿儿lulu (2024). 昆明｜翠湖公园 景如其名的美. RED (小红书), Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
7.
牛魔王西行漫记 (2024). 昆明翠湖仲夏观鸟记. RED (小红书), Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
8.
一只斑点鱼 (2024). 在翠湖看了一小时的鸭子梳毛. RED (小红书), Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
9.
寰宇地理志 (2024). 云南省昆明市发展情况介绍（人口、面积、GDP）. WeChat Official Account, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
10.
红黑人口库 (2024). 2023年[昆明]五华区人口常住户籍总人数口和第七次人口普查结果. 红黑人口库, Accessed on September 13, 2024, [Source link];
Bird species at the Green Lake Park
taken by 牛魔王西行漫记 (Ref 7)
The Green Lake Park
Taken by 鹿儿lulu (Ref 6)
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.