ASIATODAY.ID, BEIJING — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of CNY1,013.56 million ($142.25 million equivalent) to strengthen community resilience and protect biodiversity at coastal cities in Fujian Province, the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The Fujian Coastal Cities Climate-Resilient Development and Biodiversity Conservation Project will enhance the resilience to extreme weather changes of 4.4 million residents in Fuzhou City and Yunxiao County, including 2.15 million women, by reducing urban flood risk through investments focused on nature-based solutions.
The project will conserve and restore over 220 hectares of coastal wetlands and mangrove habitats, which serve as critical stopover sites for migratory waterbirds along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway.
“The project demonstrates vital benefits and synergies achieved by linking urban climate resilience, conserving biodiversity, and expanding key habitats,” said ADB Country Director for the PRC Asif Cheema on November 27, 2025.
“By restoring wetlands and mangroves, we will both improve and expand habitats for endangered species, as well as deliver nature-based solutions that can strengthen defenses against coastal and urban flooding, storm surges, and sea level rise in Fuzhou and Yunxiao.”
Fujian’s coastal areas face increasing risks from extreme weather changes, including more powerful cyclones and extreme rainfall, compounding the threat of severe flooding from storm surges, sea level rise, and urban waterlogging.
The Minjiang River Estuary National Wetlands Reserve in Fuzhou and the Zhangjiang River Estuary National Mangroves Reserve in Yunxiao are both vital habitats for migratory birds and serve as wintering and breeding sites along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway.
However, these sites have suffered from historic pollution, habitat degradation and fragmentation, and invasive species. These challenges threaten biodiversity, reduce ecosystem services, and heighten vulnerability to flooding.
The project will enhance flood risk management and climate resilience by upgrading urban drainage systems, improving stormwater detention parks and lakes, rehabilitating eco-friendly dikes, and establishing an integrated emergency response center in Yunxiao.
It will refine habitats for endangered species and remove invasive plant species. It will also transform conventional farming and aquaculture into sustainable, wildlife-friendly practices across more than 630-hectare area at both sites.
An innovative eco-compensation mechanism will provide financial incentives for local farmers to adopt sustainable practices, with partial repayments released as livelihoods improve.
The project will further strengthen institutional capacity and digital innovation. Investments in smart information and communications technology and AI-enabled monitoring systems will support real-time flood risk and wetland management.
Knowledge sharing and training activities will enhance government capacity in climate adaptation, wetland management, and disaster response. Lessons learned from this project will be shared to benefit other coastal cities, wetlands, and mangroves in the PRC and other ADB developing member countries.
The initiative is the second flagship project approved under ADB’s Regional Flyway Initiative. It closely aligns with national climate commitments and strategies for coastal and wetland conservation, contributing to both regional and global public causes, such as biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation. (AT Network)
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