The Liaohe River Estuary National Nature Reserve in Liaoning Province, a vital coastal wetland and key habitat along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, faces ongoing challenges in reconciling intensive agriculture with biodiversity conservation. To address habitat degradation and the inefficiencies of traditional rice farming, a bird-friendly rice farming model incorporating rice–crab co-culture was introduced.  Supported by the UNDP-GEF Flyway Conservation Network, the model integrates ecological restoration with livelihood improvement. 

Among various configurations, rice fields with 10% open water surface proved most effective under local conditions—enhancing both waterbird diversity and abundance. At the same time, increased agricultural income strengthened farmers’ incentives and supported the long-term sustainability of bird-friendly practices. This case exemplifies how locally adapted, ecologically sound agricultural practices can harmonize food production with wetland conservation, offering a replicable and scalable pathway toward sustainable development along migratory bird flyways.