It was learned from the Yichang Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment on January 18 that the first phase of background survey and evaluation of biodiversity has been initiated in Yichang for better biodiversity protection.

　　The survey, expected to last for one year, covers seven groups, namely, ecosystems, terrestrial vascular plants, terrestrial vertebrates (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians), terrestrial insects (butterflies and other insects), freshwater aquatic organisms (fish and large benthic invertebrates), large fungi and relevant traditional knowledge of biodiversity.

　　In accordance with the seasonality of different groups, Yichang City has already initiated the survey of mammals and birds. Going forward, relevant personnel will adopt approaches such as automatic photographing with infrared cameras, line transects, and sample point interpolation method to investigate the species composition and the temporal and spatial distribution of mammals and birds wintering in Yichang. (Reporter/Yang Jing, Correspondent/Tan Jing)