A provincial nature reserve in Hainan province has become a critical success story for wetland conservation, with populations of the endangered black-faced spoonbill quadrupling over the past decade.

The Black-faced Spoonbill Nature Reserve in Sibi Bay, Dongfang city, was established in 2006 to protect the rare migratory bird and its mangrove habitat. Recognized as a nationally important wetland in 2020, the reserve has since implemented measures that have led to a dramatic recovery in wildlife.