HABITAT CHANGE AND PROTECTION OF THE RED-CROWNED CRANE (GRUS-JAPONENSIS) IN YANCHENG BIOSPHERE RESERVE, CHINA

This article presents the change of habitats for red-crowned crane (Gr us japonensis) due to anthropologic activities in Yancheng Coastal Zon e Biosphere Reserve, Jiangsu Province, China. As a result of large-sca le human exploitation in tidal lands, the habitats of red-crowned cran e were significantly influenced and the original wetlands were gradual ly altered to form artificial wetlands. In the process of rapid econom ic development in China, an important question that the Reserve and lo cal governments are faced with, is how to lead development activities in a direction that will take into account the contradiction between h abitat protection and sustainable economic growth.