The national nature reserve located at the Yellow River estuary has seen significant progress in battling the invasive smooth cordgrass, a species that has devastated the region's native flora and fauna. Zhou Licheng, who leads the planning and construction division at the Shandong Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, described the situation as a deceptive green desert where most plant life and benthic organisms had perished due to the overwhelming presence of this invasive herb.

Initially introduced along the US Atlantic coast, smooth cordgrass spreads rapidly, having expanded its territory in the reserve at a staggering rate of 20% per year since 2010. By the time it covered approximately 8,733.3 hectares, the invasive plant had created a dense population that hindered the growth of native vegetation and affected the local wildlife by disrupting food sources and habitats.

Concerned about the ecological impact, the nature reserve collaborated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences to devise effective control measures starting from 2016, with active implementation commencing in 2020. The park's comprehensive strategy includes cutting back the vegetation before seed maturation to prevent further dispersal, as well as using seawater to create a high-salinity environment that targets the roots for destruction.

Working in challenging muddy conditions, crews utilize various vehicles to manage access to work sites. Despite the difficulty of operations, their commitment to the restoration effort has yielded substantial results, with most of the smooth cordgrass removed and the re-emergence of local wildlife observed following the return of native plant species like Suaeda salsa.

Though progress is notable, Zhou stressed that the eradication of smooth cordgrass is not yet complete. Continuous monitoring and maintenance are vital to ensure that the area does not revert to its previous degraded state. Zhou also expressed hope that the methods developed in this reserve could serve as a blueprint for addressing similar ecological challenges faced by coastal regions across China.