As much as 70 percent of middle reach Yangtze River wetlands have vanished, reporters learned during an environmental meeting held in Chongqing.

China has a total of 53.6 million hectares of wetlands, more than 20 percent of which sit along the Yangtze, according to data from the State Forestry Administration.

Lei Guangchun, professor of Beijing Forestry University, said wetlands along the river play a vital role in global ecosystems, adding that four out of the top 10 most important nature reserves for migratory birds on the Asia-Australia flyway are located in the region.

However, these wetlands face a destiny of ecosystem degradation, biodiversity decrease and severe pollution, as a result of rapid urbanization and economic development, Lei added.

Experts have suggested including wetland protection into performance evaluation of local officials, as local guidance for implementation must become much more specific and meaningfully enforced.