Chongming, China's third largest island, has great potential for its future development as it is still virgin land without much exploitation, ecology experts said at last week's China Urban Eco-construction Forum.
The forum, the first of its kind in China, was co-hosted by the China Ecology Association, Fudan University, the Shanghai Ecology Association and Chongming County government.
More than 100 scientists and specialists in ecology-related fields gathered to discuss how to build and manage ecological cities and how to achieve a balance between mankind and nature when some Chinese cities are in a transition period.
The 1,200-square-kilometer island, reputed to be the pearl at the mouth of the Yangtze River, attracted much of the attention from the experts. "I am optimistic about the island's future. It is generally pristine and waiting for development," said Li Wenhua, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and general secretary of the China Ecology Association.
"What the island needs is a scientific plan that can't destroy its current natural environment."
To protect the virgin land, the municipal government is determined to fully support the island to be built into an ecological haven, something that can also help improve the city's image as an international metropolis.
By 2020, Chongming Island will be built into a garden island on the sea, with a nice ecological environment, scenic spots for entertainment and relaxation and environmentally-friendly industries, according to the county's blueprint.
When it is built, it will feature natural and artificial forests, residential areas, tourist projects and theme parks and scientific research institutes and headquarters of large enterprises, officials said.
"Currently, Chongming's economic development is mainly hindered by its inconvenient accessibility. It takes several hours from the urban areas to the island by car and ferry," said Gong Deqing, party secretary of the county government.
"The problem is expected to be solved when a bridge and a tunnel are built at the end of 2007 as scheduled."
By then, Chenjia Town, where the bridge and the tunnel exit, will see great development opportunity. The central town area will cover an area about 20 square kilometers and the population is forecast to reach 150,000. In the town, the bird preserve at the East Coast and the International Wetland Park will attract tourists and bird watchers.
An international public golf center and a horsemanship center are planned to offer exercise recreational activities.
However, experts voiced their concern about the present and future situation of the bird preserve at the forum. "When the tunnel and the bridge, which are quite near the preserve, are opened to the public, the increasing vehicles will pollute the air and bring noise. The stream of people is also expected to increase by 24.3 percent.
Shen Jianhua, an ecological scientist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, suggested forming a neutral scientific committee made up of scientists in different fields so that they can raise reasonable suggestions for the government's reference.