- Reveling in the Prosperous Era with Song and Dance: Enjoying the Stone Forest during the National Day Holiday
- Children from Shijin Kindergarten Made a Study Trip to Shilin UGGp
- Have a spring date with Shilin flowers
- Call for hosts of the 12th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks in 2027
- Call for applications: UNESCO Global Geopark Mentorship Exchange
- Representatives of Changshan Aspring UGGp Visited Shilin UGGp
- Shilin UGGp Visited Xingyi Aspiring UGGp
Environmental Efforts Make Endangered Ottelia Acuminata Survive in the Shilin UGGp
The Changhu Lake of the Shilin UGGp in southwestern China’s Yunnan province became even more beautiful recently as a large number of ottelia acuminata, an endangered aquatic plant that is only surviving in China, swayed in the crystal clear water and the flowers floated on the surface. Many tourists and local residents can be seen arriving every day at the Changhu Lake to enjoy the flowers rippling with the waves.
ottelia acuminata surviving in the Changhu Lake of the Shilin UGGp
This aquatic plant requires harsh growth conditions, and is very sensitive to water quality and will die easily if the water is polluted. Its growth will be affected even if the water is only lightly polluted, or if fertilizer has run into the lake from farmland. So the plant has been dubbed by the ecologists as the "vane" or "touchstone" of water quality. It showed that the water quality and ecological conditions are high-grade when ottelia acuminata is seen blooming on the water surface. Due to ceaseless environmental efforts, this special plant still survives in Shilin.
As a rare and endangered plant species, ottelia acuminata is listed in July 1984 as Class III National Protected Plant. Southern China used to have a wider distribution of this plant, especially in Yunnan Province, but the distribution has gradually decreased due to pollution and water contamination.
ottelia acuminata floating in the Changhu Lake of the Shilin UGGp
Local authorities of Shilin County are always sparing no efforts to contain pollution and shaping a balanced ecological system especially within the northern part of Shilin Geopark area, which is the water source of Shilin County. Thanks to years of big concern, the water quality in Shilin County meets the standard of Class II, the second-best level in the country's five-tier quality system for surface water. Since two decades ago, the water quality of Shilin County ranked first in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, and the rating has maintained till now.
Shilin UGGp is trying to offer visitors and residents an ecological Geopark and contributing to ecological civilization.
ottelia acuminata rippling in the Changhu Lake of the Shilin UGGp
