We must firmly establish the rule of law thinking, practice the concept of "green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver", and use the strictest rule of law to protect wetland resources, so that the "kidney of the earth" can always maintain vitality. February 2, 2026 is the 30th World Wetlands Day, and this year's theme is "Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Tribute to Cultural Heritage". In recent days, various forms of themed promotional activities have been carried out in various regions to further enhance the awareness and protection consciousness of the multiple values of wetlands in the whole society. Wetlands, along with forests and oceans, are known as the three major ecosystems in the world, hailed as the "kidneys of the earth," "sources of freshwater," "climate regulators," and "gene banks of species," possessing irreplaceable ecological, social, economic, and cultural values. Wetlands are not just geographical terms, but also the cradle of human civilization and the source of culture. Early human civilization originated from rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Wetlands inspired early fishing and hunting civilizations with their rich flora and fauna, and nourished agricultural civilizations with fertile soil deposited by flooded wetlands. Nowadays, from the mudflats of the Yellow River Delta and the swamps of the Sanjiang Plain, to the grasslands and mangrove coasts of Poyang Lake, every wetland is like a vivid historical painting. China's wetland area ranks first in Asia and fourth in the world. At present, there are 82 designated internationally important wetlands, 80 nationally important wetlands, and 1208 provincial-level important wetlands. 22 certified international wetland cities, ranking first in the world in terms of quantity; 903 national wetland parks have been established. As the first national wetland park in China, Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park has attracted over 5 million visitors annually in recent years. The symbiotic model of "rice, fish, and duck" in Hani Terraced Fields in Yunnan not only protects the ecology, but also drives people to increase income, vividly interpreting the development concept of "green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver". The protection of wetlands cannot be separated from the guarantee of the rule of law. In recent years, the legal guarantee system for wetland protection in China has been continuously improved. The Wetland Protection Law, which will come into effect on June 1, 2022, clarifies the basic principles of "protection priority, strict management, systematic governance, scientific restoration, and rational utilization", and establishes systems for wetland classification management and total area control. 21 provinces (regions, cities) across the country have completed the revision of provincial-level wetland protection regulations, providing protection and restoration for wetlands. National standards such as the "Regulations for the Protection and Management of Small and Micro Wetlands" have been successively introduced... The "four beams and eight pillars" of wetland protection system have been basically established. The National Park Law, which came into effect on January 1st this year, clearly proposes the principle of "integrated protection of mountains, waters, forests, fields, lakes, grasses, and sands", and implements overall protection, systematic restoration, and comprehensive management of national parks. This also provides special rules for the authenticity and integrity protection of wetland ecosystems within national parks, further strengthening the legal guarantee of wetland protection. At the same time, it should be noted that wetland conservation still faces significant challenges due to changes in the natural environment and human activities. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China listed "making new significant progress in building a beautiful China" as one of the main goals of economic and social development during the 15th Five Year Plan period. This requires us to shoulder the great mission of wetland protection, further strengthen the rule of law thinking, improve the rule of law system, and safeguard the "kidney of the earth" with the strictest rule of law, working together to paint a beautiful China. Firstly, further improve the legal and regulatory system to ensure the supply of the rule of law. Continuously refine supporting systems and promote better implementation of laws. Based on the types, distribution characteristics, and actual protection of wetlands in various regions, more provinces can be promoted to introduce locally suitable implementation rules for wetland protection, clarify the protection standards for important and general wetlands at the provincial level, refine ecological restoration technical specifications and compensation mechanisms, and make wetland protection more targeted; Focus on the shortcomings of special wetland protection, formulate special protection provisions, such as clarifying protection priorities and refining protection measures for special wetlands such as peat bogs and mangroves, exploring quantitative standards for ecological function loss of peat, and enhancing the scientific and operational nature of special wetland protection. Secondly, continuously strengthen law enforcement and judiciary, and build a solid foundation for the rule of law. To enhance law enforcement efficiency, establish a multi departmental joint law enforcement mechanism, integrate the forces of forestry, natural resources, water conservancy and other departments, carry out wetland protection special law enforcement on a regular basis, and use technological means such as satellite remote sensing and drone patrols to achieve accurate detection and rapid disposal of illegal clues; For areas with prominent problems, the implementation of regulatory responsibilities can be forced through the interview mechanism. Deepen judicial protection, fully leverage the role of public interest litigation, expand the coverage of wetland protection public interest litigation, focus on new issues such as wetland pollution and invasive alien species, and make the judiciary a strong backing for wetland protection. Finally, we will continue to strengthen the promotion and education of the rule of law, and consolidate consensus on protection. Wetland conservation is a shared responsibility of the entire society. We should take World Wetlands Day as an opportunity to widely promote wetland laws and regulations, so that the public is aware of the legal obligations and responsibilities of wetland protection, and take practical actions to "reduce the burden" and "increase the greenery" of wetlands; Combine wetland protection with cultural heritage inheritance, promote wetland culture, and make it a spiritual nutrient that nourishes the soul. Through comprehensive and multi angle legal publicity and cultural education, the spirit of the rule of law is integrated into every aspect of wetland protection, transforming cultural identity into conscious protection, and using the power of culture to promote public protection and safeguard the sustainable development of wetland ecology. All things have their own harmony to live and their own nourishment to achieve. Wetland protection is an important component of ecological civilization construction, which is related to ecological security, people's well-being, and the long-term overall situation of building a beautiful China. Wetland protection and restoration cannot be achieved overnight, and the construction of the rule of law requires long-term efforts. We must firmly establish the rule of law thinking, practice the concept of "green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver", and use the strictest rule of law to protect wetland resources, so that the "kidney of the earth" can always maintain vitality. This is not only to build a modern ecological foundation for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, but also to leave a vivid imprint of "dampness" in the magnificent picture of building a beautiful China. (New Press) (Author Wang Hongwei, Professor at the School of Humanities and Law, Northeast Forestry University, and Director of the Environmental and Resource Law Research Center)