In the Western tradition, the term “wilderness” evokes an image of an idyllic and pristine landscape filled with lush plant life and an abundance of animal species. According to Vance Martin, president of the WILD Foundation, this conception of wilderness, even in conservation areas, leaves out a critical species: humans.

On March 20, the lawsuit filed by the three organizations successfully blocked the construction of the Jiasajiang I Hydropower Station in Yunnan Province, meaning that at least for now, these long-legged endangered birds are safe. This environmental victory for China’s birds builds on the designation of some of China’s Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf as UNESCO World Heritage sites in July 2019, with more planned in the next two to three years. However, these highpoints in avian protection do not negate the fact that nearly 40 percent of China’s endemic birds are listed as threatened and require greater protection.