Haikou is a city in Hainan Province, China. The Ramsar Site, Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve, as well as other important wetlands (Hainan Haikou Xiangshui River, Hainan Haikou Sanjiang Mangrove, Hainan Haikou Sanshiliuqu River, Hainan Haikou Tielu River, and Hainan Haikou Tanfengyang) are located in Haikou City. There are 58 species of plants in the Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve, including 29 species under 15 families of mangrove plants. Other plants include reed, seaweed and pineapple. There are also 118 kinds of birds, 93 varieties of fish and shrimp on record in the reserve. There are also large numbers of shellfish and plankton. The abundant wintering birds attract large numbers of people. The beautiful landscape of mangrove forests is one of the ten major tourist spots in Hainan Province. The conservation and development of mangrove forests have promoted the development of fishery production.

To strengthen wetland resource conservation and avoid destroying its wetland resource due to urban development, Haikou City actively implements all relevant state policies on wetland conservation. In addition, Haikou City has issued a series of local regulations to protect wetlands, which includes the Regulation to Strengthen Dongzhaigang Mangrove Conservation and Management, Regulation to Strengthen Wetland Conservation and Management, and Regulation to Strengthen Meishe River Conservation and Management. The city has also formulated and implemented the Haikou City Wetland Conservation and Restoration Implementation Plan, and the Haikou City Wetland Conservation and Restoration Master Plan.

Haikou City has established a municipal level wetland conservation and management system, consisting of wetland nature reserves and wetland parks as the main focus, and complemented by drinking water source reserves, wetland multi-purpose management areas, wetland nature mini-reserves, ocean parks, and other forms of protected area, and has allocated 83 full time staff for wetland conservation.

Since its formulation in 2015, Haikou has implemented a 3-Year Action Plan for City and Town River and Lake Water Pollution Control. The city also has developed and implemented the “Haikou Sponge City Specialized Plan”, which makes full use of ecological spaces such as natural hills, rivers and lakes, farmlands, forests, meadows, etc. to improve water conservation capacity; relieve flooding and water logging; and, promote water resource recycling. The sponge city development concept has been integrated into urban development to maximize rainwater storage capacity, infiltration and purification rates in the urban environment; and, promote rainwater resources utilization and ecological environmental protection. Examples of the sponge city concept in Haikou include permeable pavements, green belt “sinks”, and utilization of man-made rainwater storage tanks during urban road construction.

Haikou City has established numerous public awareness facilities, including the Mangrove Museum; Haifeng Town Plan Exhibition Gallery; and, the Volcano Science Museum. Activities to popularize wetland knowledge, such as a Birdwatching Festival and Bird-loving Week have been held for many years. The Mangrove Museum, built in Dongzhaigang Nature Reserve covers an area of 1,073 sqm. Since its opening in 2011, the museum has received more than 70,000 visitors, and held over 50 education activities. The Haifeng Town Plan Exhibition Gallery covers an area of 716.37 sqm, and provides an overview of mangroves in the world, Asia, China and Hainan. The Haikou Volcano Science Museum is located in Yangshan wetland area of Haikou City. The Museum promotes wetland conservation and knowledge. Around 120,000 students visit the Museum every year. In addition, Haikou recently constructed the Haikou Wetland Education Museum and Sanjiang Mangrove Science Museum.

Since 2013, Haikou has held four consecutive Hainan (Dongzhaigang) Birdwatching Festivals, attended by tens of thousands of people. Haikou City annually supports the Bird-Loving Week educational activity, which promotes wide-scale public participation, and good public education opportunities. Haikou City has also launched a series of public education activities related to the legal protection of wetlands. In addition, the Hainan Birdwatching Society holds regular birdwatching and nature education activities in Dongzhaigang, Wanlu Park of Haikou City and the Dongpo Lake of Hainan University. Since 2016, the Society has organized 12 events with over 600 participants.