China’s southernmost city, Sansha, has made steady progress in restoring and protecting its fragile marine and island ecosystems, combining scientific expertise with community participation.

Efforts to improve the environment have ranged from stricter waste management to large-scale ecological restoration. A comprehensive waste-sorting system has been introduced, with recyclables transported off the islands for centralised processing, while kitchen and garden waste is reused to support local greening.

Island vegetation has flourished thanks to breakthroughs in planting on coral sand. On Xishazhou Island, greenery now covers more than 90 percent of the land, while Zhaoshu Island has been recognised as a national-level “Harmonious and Beautiful Island”.

Marine life is also rebounding. Coral restoration projects across the Xisha Islands have revived around 300,000 square metres of reef, while conservation measures have helped sea turtles return to nest and rare seabirds, including the red-footed booby, reappear along the islands’ shores.

Source: China Central Television