China's Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf (Phase I) were inscribed on the World Heritage List as a natural site on Friday at the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee in Azerbaijan's capital.[Photo/Xinhua]

Terry Townshend, founder of the Birding Beijing website and a British ornithologist, considered the success of the site's being listed as a World Heritage site means a brighter future for migratory shorebirds.

"It's a big step forward as formal World Heritage site listings come with hard protection obligations," he said.