The project covered the area where Yudai River joins Chao Lake, Changlinhe Town, Feidong County, Hefei City. As an exemplary model of protecting wetlands around the Chao Lake, it was aimed at restoring the wetland ecosystem. Considering the river basin scope, water collection range, and relevant eco-redline requirements, we selected redlined areas for ecological protection and restoration. Apart from protecting areas 1 km within the Chao Lake, the project was also designed to restore ecosystem, purify water, reinforce slopes and banks, publicize scientific knowledge, and provide tailored ecological protection and restoration solutions.

Taking ecological protection as a top priority, based on the research on Yudai River basin scope, we designated a natural water collection area of 183.8 hectares as the protection area. With detailed research on the condition of the area, we chose a redlined area of 42.4 hectares after taking into consideration natural marshes, river course, water level and land planning scope.

The shallow wetlands, floodplains and open green space provide a habitat for birds, mainly waters. As a result, the project focused on natural restoration with little human intervention. Based on monthly data of typical rainfall and evaporation in Hefei, as well as the underlying surface of wetland and water collection scope, our team calculated the water distribution and checked the result according to data collected from the wetland.

By controlling the amount and quality of water in the wetland, restoring vegetation, preventing and controlling invasive plants, improving habitats and taking other low-interference measures, we protected the local environment on an overall and piecemeal basis, gave full play to nature and boosted the gradual transition of the ecosystem to a close-to-nature wetland ecosystem.