Wetland

　　Wetland is the most fertile system in the world.

　　It is now faced with huge threat because of the abusive exploitation.

　　Jingbo Lake in northeast China is surrounded by Changbai Mountains and wetlands. Photographer Ji Guihe is a volunteer environmentalist of the wetlands in this area. He spends years staying here and has taken many pictures of the magnificent view here. I admire what he does and is deeply moved by the photos he presents. It's worth noticing that the wetlands we see are somewhat different from that in his photos. It's not exaggerated to say that we're faced with a wetland crisis. Some twenty or thirty years ago, the Jingbo Lake was surrounded by vast pieces of wetlands and was home to various kinds of birds. But in recent years, the area of wetlands is decreasing in the name of development.

　　Wetlands are of great importance to the Jingbo Lake area. It nourishes the lake, the river, the plants, the animals, the people, in a word, the overall ecological system of this region. But now the breath of wetlands is getting increasingly weaker and it is approaching the verge of extinction. And what will disappear with the wetlands include not only the plants and animals living there but also human beings' supplies from the natural ecology. Jingbo Lake is located in the middle of Changbai Mountains and Mudan River, which makes it somewhat a buffer area between the two. It is of great importance in connecting the ecological circles of this region and making it work. It's a pity that at present people focus more on exploiting and utilizing Jingbo Lake than on preserving the sustainability of it.

　　The beautiful and crystal clear lake water, like a brilliant gemstone inlaid into the earth, nourishes life and soothes souls. Whether the holy water can remain its holiness and continue to nourish life depends on human beings' awareness and action to protect it.

　　When the iced Jingbo Lake starts to melt, vitality seems to be refreshed. It's so vivid, and yet so fragile. If human beings go one step further and cross the critical ecological line, such vitality may no longer be refreshed. Let's cherish it: the Jingbo Lake wetlands, the lung of northeast China.