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Avian Research 2023, 14(3): 100123 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100123
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 04 August 2023

Achievements, challenges, and recommendations for waterbird conservation in China's coastal wetlands

Show Author's Information Zhijun Maa( ),  Chi-Yeung Choib,  Xiaojing Ganc,  Jing Lid,  Yang Liue,  David S. Melvillef,  Tong Mug,  Theunis Piersmah,i,j,  Zhengwang Zhangk
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observation and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Environmental Research Centre, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, 215316, Jiangsu, China
The Paulson Institute Beijing Representative Office, Beijing, 100006, China
Spoon-Billed Sandpiper, Shanghai Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 201100, China
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
Global Flyway Network, Wakefield, 7096, New Zealand
Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Coastal Systems, P.O. Box 59, 1790, AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands
BirdEyes, Centre for Global Ecological Change, and Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, 9700, CC Groningen, the Netherlands
CEAAF Center for East Asian-Australasian Flyway Studies, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road 35, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
Keywords:
Management, Shorebird, Habitat, East Asian–Australasian Flyway, Coastal zone, Intertidal flat
An erratum to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100133
Cite this article:
Ma Z, Choi C-Y, Gan X, et al. Achievements, challenges, and recommendations for waterbird conservation in China's coastal wetlands. Avian Research, 2023, 14(3): 100123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avrs.2023.100123
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Abstract Full text About this article

China's coastal wetlands provide breeding, migration stopover, and wintering habitats for about 230 waterbird species, which is more than a quarter of all waterbirds in the world. Large-scale and high intensity human activities have resulted in serious loss and degradation of coastal wetlands over the past half century, causing population declines in many waterbirds. Through a literature review and expert surveys, this article reviews conservation measures taken in recent decades to protect waterbirds in China's coastal wetlands and provides recommendations for future conservation action from three aspects: policy and administration, habitat conservation and management, and multiparty participation. Over the past decades, many conservation legislation, regulations and action plans at the national level and more site-specific measures and interventions have been implemented, with notable improvement in the effectiveness in policy making and multi-stakeholder participation. Accordingly, some threats to waterbirds have been mitigated and many key sites for waterbirds have been designated as strictly protected nature reserves. However, some critical issues still remain, mostly related to habitat conservation and management, such as coastal wetland restoration, control of invasive Spartina alterniflora, control of environmental pollution, and improvement of artificial habitat quality. We highlight that protecting natural tidal wetlands and improving habitat quality are critical for the conservation of coastal waterbirds, especially those highly dependent on the intertidal wetlands. China has demonstrated strong commitment to ecological conservation and restoration for the future, in terms of both funding and policies for biodiversity and wetland ecosystems. It is important that this commitment to conserve coastal waterbirds is supported continuously by science- and evidence-based decisions and actions.


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About this article

Achievements, challenges, and recommendations for waterbird conservation in China's coastal wetlands

Show Author's information Zhijun Maa( ), Chi-Yeung Choib, Xiaojing Ganc, Jing Lid, Yang Liue, David S. Melvillef, Tong Mug, Theunis Piersmah,i,j, Zhengwang Zhangk
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observation and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Environmental Research Centre, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, 215316, Jiangsu, China
The Paulson Institute Beijing Representative Office, Beijing, 100006, China
Spoon-Billed Sandpiper, Shanghai Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 201100, China
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
Global Flyway Network, Wakefield, 7096, New Zealand
Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Coastal Systems, P.O. Box 59, 1790, AB Den Burg, Texel, the Netherlands
BirdEyes, Centre for Global Ecological Change, and Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, 9700, CC Groningen, the Netherlands
CEAAF Center for East Asian-Australasian Flyway Studies, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road 35, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

Abstract

China's coastal wetlands provide breeding, migration stopover, and wintering habitats for about 230 waterbird species, which is more than a quarter of all waterbirds in the world. Large-scale and high intensity human activities have resulted in serious loss and degradation of coastal wetlands over the past half century, causing population declines in many waterbirds. Through a literature review and expert surveys, this article reviews conservation measures taken in recent decades to protect waterbirds in China's coastal wetlands and provides recommendations for future conservation action from three aspects: policy and administration, habitat conservation and management, and multiparty participation. Over the past decades, many conservation legislation, regulations and action plans at the national level and more site-specific measures and interventions have been implemented, with notable improvement in the effectiveness in policy making and multi-stakeholder participation. Accordingly, some threats to waterbirds have been mitigated and many key sites for waterbirds have been designated as strictly protected nature reserves. However, some critical issues still remain, mostly related to habitat conservation and management, such as coastal wetland restoration, control of invasive Spartina alterniflora, control of environmental pollution, and improvement of artificial habitat quality. We highlight that protecting natural tidal wetlands and improving habitat quality are critical for the conservation of coastal waterbirds, especially those highly dependent on the intertidal wetlands. China has demonstrated strong commitment to ecological conservation and restoration for the future, in terms of both funding and policies for biodiversity and wetland ecosystems. It is important that this commitment to conserve coastal waterbirds is supported continuously by science- and evidence-based decisions and actions.

Keywords: Management, Shorebird, Habitat, East Asian–Australasian Flyway, Coastal zone, Intertidal flat

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Publication history
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Publication history

Received: 24 May 2023
Revised: 20 July 2023
Accepted: 23 July 2023
Published: 04 August 2023
Issue date: September 2023

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© 2023 The Authors.

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This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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