China will take stronger measures to protect bird migration and combat illegal bird hunting, an official with the National Forestry and Grassland Administration told a news conference on Friday.

Wang Weisheng, head of the administration's flora and fauna department, told the conference that despite the recovery of bird populations, instances of illegal bird hunting still persist in some regions, including Hunan and Shandong provinces.

"The administration will mobilize stakeholders to prevent and combat illegal activities involving the capture, trade and exploitation of migratory birds and other wildlife, to provide a secure environment for bird migration," he said.

The administration will conduct a two-month special action plan to strengthen patrols and remove illegal hunting tools in national parks, nature reserves and bird migration routes, he said.

"The administration will cooperate with departments of internet security, public security, market supervision and transportation to help crack down on illegal trading activities in bird markets, agricultural markets, restaurants, online platforms and other key locations.

"Efforts will be made to sever the illegal supply chains involved in the sale and purchasing of birds and bird products," he said.

Efforts made by governments and conservation organizations have led to positive outcomes in bird protection, he added.

"Bird populations have shown signs of recovery. The quality of bird stopover sites and migration routes has improved. Incidents of bird poaching and other activities that harm bird populations have notably decreased and the consumption of wild birds and animals has been curtailed," he added.

China is home to 1,445 bird species, accounting for about 16 percent of the world's total. It also serves as a crucial transit corridor for global bird migration, with four major migratory routes passing through its territory, covering almost the entire land and sea, Wang added.

lihongyang@chinadaily.com.cn