RSSNewsletterSiteMapFeedback

Home · Weather · Forum · Learning Chinese · Jobs · Shopping
Search This Site
China | International | Business | Government | Environment | Olympics/Sports | Travel/Living in China | Culture/Entertainment | Books & Magazines | Health
Home / Environment / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Hyacinth jams Shanghai's waterways
Adjust font size:

Shanghai's environmental protection workers are fighting to rid local waterways of water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic species that has multiplied in the wake of typhoons Wipha and Krosa.

Rivers and lakes in suburban Shanghai, including the Songjiang, Fengxian and Jinshan districts, have recently been clogged with thousands of tons of the floating plants.

File photo: The Suzhou Creek in Shanghai

Water hyacinth frequently invades Shanghai's major waterways, such as Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, blocking traffic and preventing swimming and fishing. Water hyacinth infestations also stop sunlight and oxygen from getting into the water, while the decaying plants also reduces the water's oxygen content.

The plant from South America, an invasive species endangering biodiversity, has been widely recognized as a harmful weed reducing fish stocks and shading submerged plants.

The city's environmental protection workers are currently engaged in a race against time, fishing out 2,000 tons of the rapidly growing plant from the city's waterways every day.

Outbreaks of water hyacinth do not normally occur in Shanghai until the end of October, but, this year, it started to appear at the end of July.

Since Shanghai has enjoyed an exceptionally long summer this year, the warm climate undoubtedly provides this South American plant with an ideal environment to grow in.

In addition, the two recent super typhoons Krosa and Wipha are another factors behind its boom. "When the typhoons arrived, water hyacinths scattered in the branches of Huangpu River were collected by the strong wind, and covered the river from shore to shore," said Teng Yinbao, vice-director of Shanghai Water Environment Development Company.

"If you leave them in rivers over a while, they make a absolute mess. We must get them out as soon as possible, or traffic on several rivers will be halted," he added.

(China Daily October 14, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read

Comment
Username   Password   Anonymous
 
China Archives
Related >>
- Tire, Time and Trouble for a Big Adventure
- Work Starts on Water Plant
- Weed Sparks River Alert
- Biggest Sewage Pipes Cross Huangpu River
Most Viewed >>
-Severe winter weather may persist for another week
-Battle goes on against snowstorms
-La Nina, atmospheric circulation blamed for snow disaster
-Salt tide afflicts Shanghai
-Ministry warns of spread of fruit diseases
Air Quality 
Cities Major Pollutant Air Quality Level
Beijing sulfur dioxide II
Shanghai particulate matter I
Guangzhou sulfur dioxide I
Chongqing particulate matter II
Xi'an particulate matter II
Most Read
-Severe winter weather may persist for another week
-Battle goes on against snowstorms
-La Nina, atmospheric circulation blamed for snow disaster
-Salt tide afflicts Shanghai
-Ministry warns of spread of fruit diseases
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Hand in hand to protect endangered animals and plants
- Changchun, Mini-marathon Aimed at Protecting Siberian Tiger
- Water Walk by Nature University
- Green Earth Documentary Salon
- Prof. Maria E. Fernandez to Give a Lecture on Climate Change
More
Archives
UN meets on climate change
The UN Climate Change Conference brought together representatives of over 180 countries and observers from various organizations.
Panda Facts
A record 28 panda cubs born via artificial insemination have survived in 2006.
South China Karst
Rich and unique karst landforms located in south China display exceptional natural beauty.
Saving the Tibetan Antelopes
The rare animals survive in the harsh natural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
More
Laws & Regulations
- Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China
- Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China
- Fire Control Law of the People's Republic of China
- Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters
- Law of the People's Republic of China on Conserving Energy
More
Links:
State Environmental Protection Administration
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources
China Environmental Industry Network
Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base
SiteMap | About Us | RSS | Newsletter | Feedback

Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-88828000 京ICP证 040089号