The Futian Mangrove Bird Natural Reserve is located beside a coastal avenue around the urban area of the city. A 1,500-meter-long sound shield is being equipped between the avenue and the reserve.

"Construction on the shield will be completed by the end of this year," said an official with the city's land planning bureau.

According to Wang Yuguo, director of the land administration department of the bureau, the sound-isolation facility in Shenzhen is the country's first of its kind for bird protection.

"We hope that it will shape a special protection zone, away from noise produced by motor vehicles and human activities, for birds living in the forest," Wang said.

On the northern part of Shenzhen Gulf, the Futian Mangrove Bird Reserve covers an area of 367.64 hectares. Mangrove is usually found growing on tropical and semitropical beaches. Thousands of rhizophoraceous plants and trees are found in the Futian Mangrove Bird Reserve, along with 189 species of birds.

Everyday, tens of thousands of birds can be seen in the forest. Some 23 types of birds, such as pelican and aigret, are on the endangered list.

Initiated in March last year, the 1,500-meter-long sound shield for the reserve includes a 900-meter-long natural barrier, made up of small hills and plants, the official said.

The rest of the shield is made of new materials. The five-meter-high wall is divided into two parts: the upper part is made of transparent board, which deflects sound waves; the lower part is made of foam ceramic, which absorbs sound.

Experts noted that the sound-isolation wall can reduce the noise decibel to below 60.

Some fuscous stripes are pasted on the transparent board on the wall to prevent the birds from flying into it, said the experts.

The transparent board on the wall also allows tourists to view the birds. Wang said building a harmonized ecological environment for both humans and birds has been a joint effort from both local government and residents.

Besides noise from the traffic outside the avenue, the noise of a nearby wharf also causes a threat to the living conditions of the birds.

Flocks of birds were flying around the area before the wharf went into operation.

To help the birds return to the area -- their playing ground, the city is working on plan to relocate the wharf.

To better protect the reserve, the city also decided to close the reserve to public tourists.

(People’s Daily 11/30/2000)