The Yunnan Province Wetland Protection Regulation was issued on Dec 10, 2013. It will be implemented on Jan 1, 2014.

According to the regulation, Yunnan province will set up a wetland authentication and protection system. Wetlands will be classified into different levels and will be protected by establishing various nature protection areas, wetland parks, wetland protection areas and other protective methods. Every wetland will be assigned a corresponding protection mechanism.

The regulation stresses strict protection, providing a legislative guarantee for wetland conservation and exploitation.

It clarifies prohibited acts in wetlands, including construction, changes in land use, dumping of garbage and hunting wild animals. Any person who offends the regulation will be legally liable.

The regulation also mentions that all activities that will take place in a wetland, like scientific investigation, specimen collection, photography and commercial advertising, should first get permission from related mechanisms. Otherwise, the relevant institutions or people will be seriously punished.

Wetlands have been praised as the "kidney of the earth", serving irreplaceable ecological functions. At present, Yunnan province has four international key wetlands. It has established four national wetland parks and set up 17 wetland-type nature protection areas.