Dongtan — Shanghai's great green leap forward?

The word is out. Shanghai's first nature reserve in Nanhui District's Dongtan area has officially been established. The 40.3 km long beach area will be a haven for birds such as white cranes and little stints. Many migratory birds also nest there each year.

People's Daily assures us that "anyone hunting in the area will be faced with punishment, according to established regulations for wildlife sanctuaries". But it doesn't elucidate what punishment await for those who flout the laws:

This means anyone who traps or kills wild animals will forfeit their prey, hunting equipment and income made from the illegal activity. They will also be fined. Serious offenders - defined as a hunter with 20 wild animals - will be treated as criminal cases. Hunters with 50 or more prey will receive a criminal penalty.

Huh? Is this just a case of vague wording on the part of the lawmakers or laziness on the part of the journalist who just doesn't bother to really inform his/her readers? (Probably a bit of both!)

Apparently, the Dongtan area in Nanhui district is not to be confused with the one on Chongming Island, where a huge green eco-city, make that eco-metropolis (if there was such a word), is being built — from scratch. Dongtan on Chongming Island is massive, about the size of Manhattan. The first residential and commercial space will the market in 2010, and by 2050 (one wonders if we'd still be around by then), it will boast of half a million residents. But hey, if they managed to build Pudong out of nothing, they can do it with Dongtan too. The only question that remains is: how much of the "eco" will be in that "eco-city"?

Picture from Juan Freire.