title: China's natural wetlands: past problems, current status, and future challenges.
abstract: Natural wetlands, occupying 3.8% of China's land and providing 54.9% of ecosystem services, are unevenly distributed among eight wetland regions. Natural wetlands in China suffered great loss and degradation (e.g., 23.0% freshwater swamps, 51.2% costal wetlands) because of the wetland reclamation during China's long history of civilization, and the population pressure and the misguided policies over the last 50 years. Recently, with an improved understanding that healthy wetland ecosystems play a vital role in her sustainable economic development, China started major efforts in wetland conservation, as signified by the policy to return reclaimed croplands to wetlands, the funding of billions of dollars to restore degraded wetlands, and the national plan to place 90% of natural wetlands under protection by 2030. This paper describes the current status of the natural wetlands in China, reviews past problems, and discusses current efforts and future challenges in protecting China's natural wetlands.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Wetland Ecology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, China. anshq@nju.edu.cn
authors.forename: Shuqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Harbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Baohua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Changfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhongsheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zifa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yingbiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhi
authors.forename: Yuhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shubo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Jinhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Hongli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D005544:Forecasting; D005843:Geography; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D053833:Wetlands