On April 4, the front page of Fujian Daily reported on the achievements of the coastal zone governance of Putian Blue Bay. The reporter interviewed the project manager of ZEHO ECO and comprehensively explained that the company focused on the construction of blue carbon sink and coastal ecosystem, and extended the practice of ecological restoration to the sea with Nature-based Solutions.

April 4 Fujian Daily

Gulf Renovation, Rebuilding "Putian Blue"

In the middle of spring, birds are singing, and flowers are fragrant. Recently, a new mangrove forest was added here. On the beach, rows of saplings are arranged in order and thrive.

The birth of this mangrove forest benefited from the Putian Blue Bay renovation project. In 2019, Putian stood out from 20 cities across the country and received 300 million yuan of national reward and subsidy funds for implementing the ecological restoration and protection project of Mulan River Estuary and Mazu city coastal zone.

At present, the construction of Putian Blue Bay renovation project has been completed. The consolidation and upgrading of sea walls, ecological restoration and improvement, landscape remodeling and sharing, and prominent economic benefits... These are the background of Putian as a national water ecological civilization city, and also a new practice of system governance in Mulan River Basin.

Upgrade the Anti Wave Standard to 50 Year

“From a technical point of view, it is easy to upgrade the sea wall of Mazu city. What is difficult is the unpredictable natural environment.” As the project leader of the contractor, Cao Jianxun took part in the project construction throughout the entire process. “Sometimes the tide and sometimes the wind have a great impact on the hoisting work and limit the effective construction time.”

Ecological reinforcement and restoration project of Mazu City seawall

Mazu city's coastal zone ecological restoration and protection project is in the north bank section of Meizhou Bay, including Mazu City seawall lifting and reconstruction project. The project is in the core area of the entire project, with a total investment of 180 million yuan. 100,000 concrete accords need to be laid to control 4.56 kilometers of coastline.

The original Mazu City seawall has no wave wall, and the overall flood control construction and wave prevention standard is low, which can only meet the return period of 30 years. Coupled with the perennial wave erosion, the seawall has been scarred. In particular, super Typhoon Meranti in 2016 directly led to the collapse of some dams.

Since then, Mazu City seawall upgrading project has been launched rapidly. “After entering the site, we will adopt the method of tide retreat and people advance, and make concerted efforts to advance at full speed.” Cao Jianxun said that it is mainly through reinforcement and repair to enhance the seawall’s ability to resist typhoons, to avoid being washed away again. It is necessary to implement sand fixation projects to prevent the continued loss of sea sand.

After nearly two years of continuous construction, Mazu City seawall upgrading project was successfully completed. The reporter saw at the scene that there is an additional wave dissipator keeping wall on the south side of the seawall, and the concrete Accropode blocks are placed in a staggered manner, which plays a role in reducing the destructive energy of waves and raising the seawall’s wave prevention standard to a 50 year return period.

Swamp Turned into Internet Celebrity Check-in Place 

Walking along the wooden plank road of Ziyu Lake, the lake is sparkling at the foot, and a few Herons in the distance are leisurely and contented. A picture of clear water, green shore, clean beach and beautiful bay comes into view.

Ziyu Lake

Ziyu Lake is in Gangli village, Shanting Town, the Economic Development Zone on the North bank of Meizhou Bay, Putian City. It is part of the inner bay of Mazu city. It used to be a swamp with weeds. There are piles of garbage and a mess.

After the blue bay renovation project was launched, Ziyu Lake ushered in a new life. “There are four major construction goals wetland restoration and protection, habitat system construction, biological habitat shaping, and the continuation of Da Ai culture.” Deng Xiaobing, the project leader of the Ziyu Lake wetland restoration project, said that the floating bridge plank road is used to connect the lake islands, dredge the water flow and enhance the self purification capacity of the water body.

In the Mazu inner bay ecological landscape project, the construction unit has set up an ecological frame 1.2 meters long and 0.6 meters wide, with a total length of about 3 kilometers, to stabilize the coastline, prevent water and soil loss, and provide breeding and habitat for fish. Today, the inner bay plot is covered with green plants, with a restored ecological area of 22 hectares and a fitness trail.

After ecological restoration, Ziyu Lake has become a new online card punching place. When the tide rises, it is a submerged shoal and wetland under the forest, which has become a leisure sea area to attract citizens to visit and play. With the improvement of the surrounding water environment and vegetation environment, many fish and birds also inhabit here.

Blue Bay Brings a Thriving Economy

Both belong to the Mazu city's coastal zone ecological restoration and protection project. The Daughter Bay coastal zone ecological restoration project is in Jiangshan Village, Shanting Town, next to Gangli Village. This is an important laver planting base in Putian, with over 200 farmers taking part in the planting. It is mainly arranged in a strip curtain structure. In the past, the return garbage from the sea often harmed it.

“After the renovation of the Bay, there is no garbage and no pollution.” Lin Guohui, a cadre of Jiangshan Village, said, “the laver planting area in the village is about 2000 mu, and the first crop can generate an income of 6 million yuan. In the past, only two crops can be harvested, but now up to five or six crops can be harvested.”

The improvement of economic benefit is closely related to the improvement of the ecological environment.

Another part of the Putian Blue Bay renovation project is at the mouth of Mulan River. Its left bank is in Sanjiangkou Town, Hanjiang District, and its right bank is in Huangshi Town, Licheng District. It was originally a paradise for invasive species of Spartina Alterniflora. Because of its high density, the water quality declined, and it was easy to induce red tides.

“Mangroves are one of the most biodiversity rich marine ecosystems, which have ecological effects such as preventing wind and waves, promoting siltation and protecting beaches, and purifying seawater and air.” Chen Qingfeng, the person in charge of the construction unit, said that the method of “Physics + biology,” was adopted to bury Spartina Alterniflora on the spot. After fermentation, it became fertilizer, and then planted mangroves.

“I contracted 17 hectares of tidal flats at the mouth of Mulan River to breed local razor clams. Last year, 6 hectares were requisitioned, and the rest will continue to be contracted after the contract expires this year.” Chen Hongming, a 58-year-old farmer who lives in Dongjia Village, Huangshi Town, Licheng District, “after the renovation of the surrounding waters, the water quality has improved, and the quality and output of razor clams have improved. There is no worry about selling them at a good price.”