An intelligent monitoring system is helping bird protectors in Chenhu Lake Wetland of Wuhan, Hubei province, by collecting data and learning more about the birds’ habits.

The wetland covers about 11,600 hectares and is located in the area where the Yangtze River and Han River meet. Up to 86,000 birds of 227 species inhabited the wetland last year, its figures showed.

A limited number of bird-watchers and patrol guards may miss out counting some of the birds but the system can do it more accurately, according to the reserve. In July last year, the monitoring system, the first of its kind in Hubei, was put into trial(试验)operation in the wetland. It has since recorded real-time monitoring data and assisted with patrolling. The system can detect the type of birds arriving or leaving and which areas they prefer to move around, by identifying species through the sounds they make. It also monitors sounds in the wild and compares them with those in the database.

A video system tracks key protection areas all day. Photos of birds taken will be automatically compared with those in the database, with a combination of audio and video information increasing the recognition accuracy. The reserve’s employees have also added tracking functions in the monitoring system by placing satellite trackers on bean geese migrating. Bean geese have been found to fly from Russian areas.

Feng Jiang, an engineer of the Chenhu wetland nature reserve management bureau, said, “The tracking data has a positive effect on the protection of species globally. Since November last year, we have tried to clarify the migration routes of birds. We monitor where they stay and when they return to the reserve. The data tells us where birds come from and pass by, so we can cooperate with international organizations or countries to better protect them.”

The monitoring system also uses digital technology to build a simulation (模拟) model. By simulating the flow of tourists, researchers can decide the maximum number of visitors in Chenhu Lake and prevent people from disturbing the birds. This can help researchers predict as well the possibility and scope (范围) of the environmental impact on the wetland through the growth of plants there and roll out targeted measures.

March 3 is World Wildlife Day, an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful diversity of plants and animals on earth. This day also marks the 50th anniversary of an international agreement between governments to ensure the trading of wild animals and plants—which is estimated to be worth billions of US dollars globally—doesn’t threaten species’ survival.

The voluntary deal, called the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES), provides varying degrees of protection to more than 37,000 species globally. The text of the convention was agreed at a meeting on March 3,1973 and it came into force in 1975. It provides a framework for 184 participants to ensure sustain-able trading of wild species for products such as food, fur and medicines.

“Without CITES, we’d lack a vital mechanism to turn off the ever-flowing and sorrowful deal of species driven by market demand,” said Abigail Entwistle at conservation charity in a press release.

The mountain gorilla is one species benefiting from a total trade ban under CITES in partner ship with this charity. Since this began, the population size has risen fourfold to more than 1,000 individuals. The pygmy hippos(侏儒河马)are also protected by CITES. They are found in the forests and swamps of West Africa, with most living in Liberia. Recently, conservationists have confirmed that pygmy hippos have a wider distribution than previously thought.

Grenadines pink rhino iguana(犀牛鬣蜥)is a striking species, which is threatened by hunting, because it still lacks CITES protection. Since 2016, the charity has been working with local and international partners to protect this species. The important point is that it works. The charity says“a CITES listing would be the logical next step”to better protect its survival.

Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. Coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine (海洋的) environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species. Scientists estimate that there may be millions of undiscovered species living in and around reefs. This biodiversity is considered the key to finding new medicines for the 21st century. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, viruses, and other diseases.

Healthy coral reefs (珊瑚礁) support fisheries as well as jobs and businesses through tourism and recreation. About half of all managed fisheries depend on coral reefs and related habitats for a part of their life cycles. The National Marine Fisheries Service estimates the commercial value of U. S. fisheries from coral reefs is over $ 100 million. Local economies receive billions of dollars from visitors to reefs through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.

Coral reef structures also buffer shorelines against 97 percent of the energy from waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, and property damage. When reefs are damaged or destroyed, the absence of this natural barrier can increase the damage to coastal communities from normal wave action and violent storms. Several million people live in U. S. coastal areas near coral reefs. Some coastal development is required to provide necessary infrastructure (基础设施) for coastal residents and the growing coastal tourism industry.

Despite their great economic and recreational value, coral reefs are severely threatened by pollution, disease, and habitat destruction. Once coral reefs are damaged, they are less able to support the many creatures that live on them and the communities near them. When a coral reef supports fewer fish, plants, and animals, it also loses value as a tourist destination.