Hidden Loss of Wetlands in China.
| dc.contributor.author | Xu, Weihua | |
| dc.contributor.author | Fan, Xinyue | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ma, Jungai | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pimm, Stuart L | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kong, Lingqiao | |
| dc.contributor.author | Zeng, Yuan | |
| dc.contributor.author | Li, Xiaosong | |
| dc.contributor.author | Xiao, Yi | |
| dc.contributor.author | Zheng, Hua | |
| dc.contributor.author | Liu, Jianguo | |
| dc.contributor.author | Wu, Bingfang | |
| dc.contributor.author | An, Li | |
| dc.contributor.author | Zhang, Lu | |
| dc.contributor.author | Wang, Xiaoke | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ouyang, Zhiyun | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-08-02T16:59:05Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-08-02T16:59:05Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2019-09 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2021-08-02T16:58:59Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | To counter their widespread loss, global aspirations are for no net loss of remaining wetlands [1]. We examine whether this goal alone is sufficient for managing China's wetlands, for they constitute 10% of the world's total. Analyzing wetland changes between 2000 and 2015 using 30-m-resolution satellite images, we show that China's wetlands expanded by 27,614 km2 but lost 26,066 km2-a net increase of 1,548 km2 (or 0.4%). This net change hides considerable complexities in the types of wetlands created and destroyed. The area of open water surface increased by 9,110 km2, but natural wetlands-henceforth "marshes"-decreased by 7,562 km2. Of the expanded wetlands, restoration policies contributed 24.5% and dam construction contributed 20.8%. Climate change accounted for 23.6% but is likely to involve a transient increase due to melting glaciers. Of the lost wetlands, agricultural and urban expansion contributed 47.7% and 13.8%, respectively. The increase in wetlands from conservation efforts (6,765 km2) did not offset human-caused wetland losses (16,032 km2). The wetland changes may harm wildlife. The wetland loss in east China threatens bird migration across eastern Asia [2]. Open water from dam construction flooded the original habitats of threatened terrestrial species and affected aquatic species by fragmenting wetland habitats [3]. Thus, the "no net loss" target measures total changes without considering changes in composition and the corresponding ecological functions. It may result in "paper offsets" and should be used carefully as a target for wetland conservation. | |
| dc.identifier | S0960-9822(19)30933-9 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 0960-9822 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 1879-0445 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | ||
| dc.language | eng | |
| dc.publisher | Elsevier BV | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | Current biology : CB | |
| dc.relation.isversionof | 10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.053 | |
| dc.subject | Animals | |
| dc.subject | Humans | |
| dc.subject | Conservation of Natural Resources | |
| dc.subject | Ecosystem | |
| dc.subject | Biodiversity | |
| dc.subject | Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | China | |
| dc.subject | Wetlands | |
| dc.subject | Endangered Species | |
| dc.subject | Climate Change | |
| dc.subject | Satellite Imagery | |
| dc.subject | Environmental Restoration and Remediation | |
| dc.title | Hidden Loss of Wetlands in China. | |
| dc.type | Journal article | |
| duke.contributor.orcid | Pimm, Stuart L|0000-0003-4206-2456 | |
| pubs.begin-page | 3065 | |
| pubs.end-page | 3071.e2 | |
| pubs.issue | 18 | |
| pubs.organisational-group | Nicholas School of the Environment | |
| pubs.organisational-group | Environmental Sciences and Policy | |
| pubs.organisational-group | Duke Science & Society | |
| pubs.organisational-group | Duke | |
| pubs.organisational-group | Initiatives | |
| pubs.organisational-group | Institutes and Provost's Academic Units | |
| pubs.publication-status | Published | |
| pubs.volume | 29 |
Files
Original bundle
- Name:
- 340 Xu et al. Current Biology 2019.pdf
- Size:
- 2.61 MB
- Format:
- Adobe Portable Document Format