Jiangxi Poyang Lake Wetland. [Photo by Liu Wei for chinadaily.com.cn]

China's first specialized law on wetlands protection will take effect June 1. According the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the law will mean severe punishment for damaging wetland environments.

Behaviors such as over-grazing, over-harvesting, wastewater discharge and landfilling are forbidden. Human activities including tourism, planting, animal husbandry and shipping within wetlands should not change wetlands' natural status. Fines for one square meter of wetland damage can be as much as 10,000 yuan ($1,490).

Qinghai Lake Bird Island Wetland. [Photo by Yang Tao for chinadaily.com.cn]

So far, the wetlands protection rate has increased to more than 50 percent, up from 43.5 percent in 2015.

By Li Hongyang