​Xinwu district makes progress in treatment of Taihu Lake

A bird's eye view of Daxigang Wetland Park in Xinwu district, Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

Egretta eulophotes, also named as Chinese Egret, a species under State first-class protection, first appeared in the Daxigang Wetland Park in Xinwu district in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province in May.

The rare bird's appearance indicates that the environment of Taihu Lake, which the park is located next to, has improved, noted experts.

This improvement in the natural environment is largely due to the series of measures taken by the local government, including the establishment of an algae removal center in the wetland park which can process 5,000 metric tons of blue-green algae a day.

In 2021, the phosphorous concentration level of Taihu Lake in Wuxi was reduced to 0.061 milligrams per liter, down 25.6 percent year-on-year, leading to a significant improvement in water quality.

Local authorities have also launched a series of events to educate the public about the importance of protecting the wetland.

Children attend a nature education lesson in the Daxigang Wetland Park in Xinwu district, Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

The Daxigang Wetland Park in Xinwu district, Wuxi attracts many endangered species. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]