Iris Wong / Host 

We're entering the protected heart of Mai Po Nature Reserve of Hong Kong. 

Here in Mai Po's core wetlands, these mudflats of Deep Bay connect seamlessly with Shenzhen's Futian Mangrove Forest across the water - one ecosystem spanning two cities.

This wetland is a vital lifeline for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway - their crucial stopover and winter sanctuary.

In 2023, Shenzhen and Hong Kong signed a historic pact to co-protect this nationally significant wetland, creating a global model for coastal conservation. 

Dr. Yang Qiong / Professor, Futian National Nature Reserve 

These mangroves are Shenzhen and Hong Kong's shared ecological heritage.

Futian Mangrove Reserve holds a unique status as China's only urban-center national nature reserve. 

Dr. Yang Qiong: 

We hold quarterly cross-border meetings to exchange expertise - recently adopting Mai Po's innovative fishpond management techniques to transform aquaculture areas into tailored bird habitats.

Here grows the Many-petaled Mangrove. That shrub? Spiny Bears Breech - both thriving where land meets sea in these specialized coastal ecosystems.

UNESCO research reveals mangroves sequester 5 times more CO₂ per unit area than land forests. 

China's mangrove forests now span over 300 sq km - an 80 sq km expansion since 2000, making China among the few nations achieving net mangrove growth. 

Dr. Yang Qiong: 

Mangroves trap “blue carbon” underground - once stored, it stays locked away from the atmosphere.

Destroying these "blue carbon" coasts would unleash a double crisis: massive greenhouse emissions while stripping away nature's defenses against storms, tsunamis and rising seas. 

Dr. Yang Qiong: 

Through low-carbon living and mangrove protection, we safeguard our marine ecosystems - ultimately preserving our planet's beauty for generations.