This Law is developed for the purposes of strengthening wetlands protection, maintaining the ecological function and biodiversity of wetlands, ensuring ecological security, and promoting ecological progress, and realizing harmonious coexistence between man and nature. The Law consists of 90 Articles divided into 7 Chapters: General Provisions (I); Wetlands Resources Management (II); Wetlands Protection and Utilization (III); Wetland Restoration (IV); Supervision and Examination (V); Legal Liability (VI); Supplemental Provisions (VII).
This Law shall govern the wetlands protection, utilization, restoration, and related management activities within the territory of the People's Republic of China and other sea areas under its jurisdiction.
The state shall establish a wetland resources investigation and evaluation system, and implements hierarchical management of wetlands. Wetlands are divided into important wetlands and general wetlands according to their ecological location, area and the importance of maintaining ecological functions and biodiversity. The competent forestry and grassland authrity under the State Council shall formulate the national wetland protection plan in accordance with the national economic and social development plan, land space plan and ecological environment protection plan, and submite plan to the State Council for approval. People's governments at or above the provincial level shall incorporate wetlands into national parks, nature reserves or nature parks according to wetland protection plans and wetland protection needs. Local people's governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with the wetland protection plan and in accordance with local conditions, take measures such as land remediation, vegetation restoration and wildlife protection to enhance the ecological function and carbon sink function of wetlands.