China tests new scientific guidelines to restore degraded and damaged coastal and marine ecosystems

 

As one of PEMSEA’s country partners, China has been implementing integrated coastal management (ICM) since the early 1990s, including the promotion of marine ecological restoration.

 

Currently, China is pilot-testing the Technical Guidelines for Marine Ecological Restoration in Dongying ang Qingdao.

 

Issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2021, the guidelines aim to improve the scientific, standardized level of marine ecological restoration in China to restore damaged or degraded coastal and marine ecosystems and consequently improve the quality of services provided by these ecosystems.

 

The guidelines serve as the overall normative document for marine ecological restoration in China. They clarify the purpose, principles, types, general requirements, and technical processes of marine ecological restoration of typical ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass beds, seaweed beds, coral reefs, oyster reefs, beaches, bays, estuaries, and islands. They also provide evidence-based techniques for conducting ecological surveys, diagnosing issues on degradation, and determining restoration targets.

 

 

Seeds of Suaeda salsa planted in Dongying, China in September 2021. These plants have high salt tolerance and high value as traditional Chinese medicine and vegetable, making them ideal species in restoring vegetation in areas with high soil salinity. Photo by MNR China.

 

To know more about China’s efforts on sustainable coastal and marine resource development, check their country statement during the 7th East Asian Seas Ministerial Forum in 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7cUsfUWWaE