Industry News

By Zafar Hussain

BEIJING, Sept. 22 (China Economic Net) -- The ecological revival of Daihai Lake in Inner Mongolia is offering valuable experience for Pakistan as it seeks to protect wetlands and migratory birds along the Indus Flyway, demonstrating how integrated watershed management, water conservation and digital technologies can work together to restore fragile ecosystems.

Located in Liangcheng County, Daihai Lake, the third-largest inland lake in Inner Mongolia, has undergone a remarkable transformation after years of shrinking water levels, groundwater depletion, and deteriorating water quality. According to Du Haijun, Director of the Daihai Nature Reserve Service Center, the restoration reflects a shift from managing the lake as an isolated waterbody to treating the entire watershed as one ecological system.

Speaking to China Economic Net, Du said the Daihai Ecological Emergency Water Supply Project has played an important role in restoring the lake. The 134.24-kilometer water diversion system draws seasonal excess water from the Yellow River and can deliver up to 44.66 million cubic meters annually. The project includes three high-lift pump stations, three water-delivery tunnels and about 123 kilometers of conduits.

He said that water replenishment, however, has been accompanied by strict measures to reduce pressure on local water resources. Authorities converted 260,000 mu of water-intensive irrigated farmland to dryland agriculture, decommissioned redundant wells and strengthened controls on agricultural and industrial water use. Industrial facilities have also adopted air-cooling and wastewater recycling technologies.

Du explained that sewage treatment and agricultural pollution control have been strengthened across the watershed. Treated wastewater is reused by a local power plant instead of being discharged into the lake, replacing an annual withdrawal of about 9 million cubic meters of natural lake water.

The results are reflected in the lake's ecological indicators. By August 2026, Daihai's water surface had expanded to 65.8 square kilometers, while its water level had risen by 3.82 meters compared with the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan. Groundwater levels around the lake also recovered. Salinity declined from 18‰ in 2022 to 5.7‰, creating more suitable conditions for freshwater species.

“The improvement has also benefited biodiversity. Wetland vegetation coverage has reached 70 percent, while the number of recorded bird species increased from 68 before major restoration efforts to 113. More than 70 first-class protected Great Bustards regularly overwinter in the basin, while four pairs of Oriental White Storks successfully nested and bred in the reserve in 2026”, he added.

Another important component of the restoration is intelligent monitoring. The reserve now uses automated monitoring stations, pan-tilt-zoom cameras and drones to collect information on water levels, precipitation, water quality, vegetation, fish populations and bird species. The system can also detect unauthorized entry, illegal fishing and other activities, allowing authorities to respond more quickly.

For Pakistan, the experience is particularly relevant as migratory birds begin arriving during the September-to-March winter season. Dr. Tariq Mahmood, Associate Professor of Wildlife Management at PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, told China Economic Net that Pakistan has witnessed a decline in both the number and diversity of migratory birds over roughly the past decade.

He identified illegal hunting, deteriorating water quality, human disturbance and uncontrolled tourism as major challenges facing Pakistan's wetlands. Migratory birds traveling from Central Asia along the Indus Flyway pass through Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before dispersing toward Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.

"Illegal hunting must be controlled," Dr. Tariq said, adding that pollution, plastics and excessive human activity around recreational wetlands also negatively affect aquatic wildlife.

He noted that several Pakistani wetlands, including Ramsar sites, face increasing ecological pressures. In places such as Kallar Kahar Lake, heavy tourism, boating, litter, and other activities can disturb both resident and migratory birds.

"Two important wetlands near Islamabad, Kallar Kahar Lake and Sarkalan Lake, urgently need comprehensive ecological restoration and protection. Once thriving hubs for migratory birds, these lakes have witnessed a significant decline in bird populations due to deteriorating water quality, habitat disturbance, and human activities. The experience of Daihai Lake could provide a valuable model for restoring these important bird habitats", Dr. Tariq stated.