Lianyungang Offers Long-Term Solution for Tidal Flat Governance, Eradicating Over 30,000 Mu of Smooth Cordgrass

From: Lianyungang Daily Updated: 2026-09-04 02:44

In the Ganyu Port Area, smooth cordgrass that once spread in dense patches was like a “green desert”, suffocating tidal flats and forcing migratory birds to detour. Now, with the comprehensive advancement of scientific eradication and follow-up restoration and control, these tidal flats have finally shed their heavy “shackles”—bare flats have reappeared, tides flow freely, and tidal flat space occupied for years is gradually being released. The transformation of the Ganyu wetlands is a microcosm of Lianyungang’s battle to eradicate smooth cordgrass.

Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), native to the east coast of North America, is alkali- and flood-tolerant and highly reproductive, making it an “ecological killer” that urgently needs to be removed. In recent years, Lianyungang has conducted multi-dimensional surveys to establish a baseline, attaching equal importance to surveys and eradication. It has used high-resolution satellite remote sensing, drone aerial photography, and on-site surveys to fully identify the distribution of smooth cordgrass and establish a current-status database. After completing the task of treating contiguous tidal flats, it took the lead in the province in carrying out whole-area governance, incorporating scattered areas such as ditches, river channels, and aquaculture ponds into the scope of prevention and control. It has adopted multiple precise eradication measures, delineating all patches that should be delineated, formulating implementation plans tailored to local conditions, and comprehensively using manual mowing, deep plowing, cofferdam enclosure, flooding, and cutter-suction dredging to thoroughly destroy root structures. Monitoring facilities have been installed in concentrated distribution areas and management and protection areas to coordinate on-site operations in real time. To date, the city has eradicated more than 30,000 mu in total, and the spread of smooth cordgrass has been fundamentally curbed.

With the city’s smooth cordgrass eradication task fully completed, the focus of prevention and control has shifted to long-term management and control. To continuously consolidate governance results and curb rebound and spread, the city’s natural resources and planning department issued the Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Long-Term Prevention and Control of Smooth Cordgrass Citywide, setting clear overall prevention and control goals: by 2030, achieve dynamic zero presence of smooth cordgrass within the city, with a recurrence rate of no more than 5% in treated areas, and build a full-chain closed-loop management and control system featuring precise prevention and control, rapid response, efficient handling, and solid management and protection. By scientifically designating general monitoring areas and key monitoring areas, areas prone to recurrence, such as estuaries, tidal creeks, ponds and dams, and areas around port areas, are listed as key monitoring areas. A space-air-ground integrated monitoring network has been established. A ledger of recurrence and spread points has been set up, and a red, yellow, and green tiered early warning mechanism has been strictly implemented. Regular inspections of newly invaded tidal flats are conducted to strictly prevent small patches from developing into contiguous invasions.

To consolidate long-term management and protection responsibilities, relevant departments in Lianyungang have carried out dynamic patrols by combining tower-mounted video, big data, artificial intelligence, and a grid-based management and protection system. A joint patrol and law enforcement mechanism involving natural resources, forestry, ecology and environment, agriculture and rural affairs, and other departments has been established. Key periods of migratory bird migration are reasonably avoided, channels for public tip-offs are broadened, and a pattern of mass prevention and mass control is being built. In terms of scientifically carrying out restoration and utilization, following the principle of natural restoration as the main approach and artificial restoration as a supplement, and benchmarking against the original ecological appearance of tidal flats while accommodating the habitat needs of migratory birds and aquatic organisms, measures are implemented by zone. According to the principle of planting trees where suitable, grass where suitable, preserving tidal flats where suitable, and developing fisheries where suitable, the native communities of coastal wetlands are being restored. At the same time, relying on the treated tidal flats, ecological tourism, scientific research, science popularization and education, and ecological fisheries are being appropriately developed, so that good ecology brings good benefits.