NIO’s First Partnership With the UNDP In Support of Shanghai Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve

On July 25th, NIO established a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in support of the Shanghai Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve (referred to as Dongtan Nature Reserve).

As part of this collaboration, NIO will provide a fleet of smart electric vehicles for patrolling purposes and contribute to the construction of NIO Power charging infrastructure. Both parties will work together to develop a clean and low-carbon solar-powered self-sustaining energy system.

This collaboration marks the first destination of Clean Parks initiative in partnership with the UNDP and the 10th domestic ecological collaboration project since the launch of Clean Parks. Together, NIO and UNDP aim to protect the wetland ecosystem and migratory bird flyways.

Dongtan Wetland: Paradise for Migratory Birds

Located at the eastern end of Chongming Island — the third largest island in China, the Dongtan Nature Reserve is situated in the heart of the Yangtze River estuary, a vast area of freshwater to brackish marshes, tidal channels, and intertidal mudflats. The unique geographical position, hydrological process and climate have created a distinctive wetland ecosystem, making it a valuable sanctuary for birds and an ecological gift of natural heritage bestowed upon Shanghai.

The Dongtan Nature Reserve is home to 300 bird species. As a paradise for birds, its main conservation targets include migratory water bird groups represented by plovers, geese and ducks, herons, gulls, and cranes, as well as the estuarine wetland ecosystem that supports their survival.

With its unique and abundant wetland natural resources and ecosystems, along with effective conservation management measures, Dongtan Nature Reserve made it on to the List of Wetlands of International Importance in 2002.

Resided in the middle of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), Dongtan Nature Reserve plays a very important stopover for about 1 million migratory birds. From Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other countries, birds have been recorded during their migration, including more than 100 Hooded Cranes under first class state protection, and hundreds of thousands of plovers.

Global Migratory Bird Flyways

Among over 10,000 bird species that inhabit on Earth, approximately more than half of them exhibit migratory behavior. These migratory birds follow relatively fixed routes called "Migratory Bird Flyways".

Of the nine major migratory bird flyways globally, four pass through China, including the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, the Western Pacific Flyway, the Central Asian Flyway, and the West Asian-East African Flyway. Dontan Nature Reserve is located at the intersection of two migratory flyways, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and the Western Pacific Flyway, making it crucial lifelines for migratory birds worldwide.

As WU Minglu, the Secretary-General of the China Wildlife Conservation Association, once stated, "If the habitat in a certain region is not properly protected, the efforts made by other countries and regions along the flyway may be in vain."

Bird migration routes span across mountains and rivers, and the journey is far from smooth sailing. Climate change disrupts the stability of food resources in habitats, leading to disturbances in the life histories of migratory birds and the disruption of coupling between phenology and migratory birds' flight patterns.

The results and outputs of NIO's collaboration with the UNDP's ecological co-building project will also provide strong support for the implementation of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)'s project. This collaboration will effectively enhance the exchange of technical expertise in wetland protected area management and mainstreaming of biodiversity.

Soaring to the Blue Sky

Birds explore the sky with their wings, interpreting freedom, warmth, and perseverance through a lifetime of flight. Starting from July 26th, NIO, together with UNDP, GEF, and Shanghai Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve, are launching the "Soaring to the Blue Sky", a themed event that introduces bird-related interactive exhibitions at eight NIO Centers in Shanghai.

The "Soaring to the Blue Sky" interactive exhibition will also embark on a national tour. We invite you to join us in safeguarding the migratory bird lifelines and embracing Blue Sky Coming.