The creation of a mangrove tree forest is well under way on Dazhou Island at Shuidong Bay of Maoming city, in south China's Guangdong Province.

Growing around coastal and river outlets in tropical and subtropical zones, the mangrove is dubbed the "kidney of ocean" and is a kind of rare marine biological resources due to its reported ability to conserve the ecological environment of sea and marine resources and improve the sustainable growth of marine economy.

Located in the west of Guangdong, Maoming city is blessed with a 2,200-km-long coastal line and a vast area of shoal patches, of which 3,647 hectares are suitable for growing mangrove trees. The city now grows over 660-strong hectares of natural mangroves, including some 330 hectares along the rim of Shuidong Bay and at the surroundings of Dazhou Island.

In May 2001, Maoming city began putting together a forest park by the sea, planning to add 120,000 rare quality trees to the existing natural mangrove distribution area on the island. They are expected to grow into a dense forest in a matter of three years.

In the coming five years, the city plans to invest 20.66 million yuan (US$2.5 million) to expand this area into an even larger and more exuberant sea forest park.

(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2002)