Ecosystem threats and management strategies for wetlands in China

Abstract

Wetlands provide a wide range of ecosystem services, and so their conservation and wise use are receiving increasingly greater attention globally. China has a wealth of wetland ecosystems that are well known as hot spots of biological diversity. China has experienced a serious loss of wetlands owing to rapid urbanisation, population growth and industrialisation. Some of the major threats and challenges to wetlands are related to habitat degradation, loss of biodiversity and weaknesses in their protection and management. In this paper we review the distribution of wetlands in China and discuss the key factors that degrade these wetlands. We further discuss management strategies and make recommendations to strengthen the network of wetlands in China.