Beijing Wenyuhe Park sees biodiversity surge with 880 species

Beijing's Wenyuhe Park is now home to 880 species of plants and animals, up by more than 200 species in the past four years, according to a white paper released Wednesday to mark World Environment Day.

The white paper, titled "Beijing Wenyuhe Park Biodiversity Development White Paper 2025," highlights achievements from four years of ecological restoration and protection.

Park staff have introduced targeted protection measures for 17 representative species, adjusting their efforts to meet each species' specific needs.

For example, they carefully manage water levels for crested kingfishers, which nest in riverbank cliffs that are sensitive to water changes. Additional steps include providing extra protection for the common redstart and installing barriers to shield the easily disturbed oriental scops owl.

Wenyuhe Park serves as a key ecological corridor, connecting the Yanshan Mountain barrier with Beijing's urban center. The park plays an important role in flood control, ecological conservation and biodiversity restoration. It has also helped improve water quality in downstream sections of the Northern Canal, with main indicators generally stable at Class IV and some areas reaching Class III.

Zhang Yaofang, a senior engineer at the Beijing Institute of Water Sciences and Technology, said clean water indicator species such as mayflies and stoneflies are now found in the Qinghe and Wenyuhe rivers. Fish species such as the pale chub and rosy bitterling have also been recorded at several locations in the park.

Since 2020, the park has followed a phased improvement plan and is now entering its "five-year shaping" stage, focusing on landscaping and habitat restoration.

The municipal water affairs department said it will enhance ecological monitoring using Internet of Things technology to create a real-time monitoring network.

Officials also plan to use new techniques to restore habitats, including reshaping the terrain, adjusting water flow and rebuilding plant communities to better support native wildlife.