Abstract
This is the first paper from China about the role of Spartina alterniflora in reclaiming the Dongtai tidal flats and the offshore sands. S. alterniflora has accelerated natural land formation by expanding reclaimable area of 29 km 2 in 11–13 years with 48–52 cm vertical accretion rates in 3.4 years and nearly 1 km progradation of marshland in 9 years. A 17 km long and 0.8–2.0 km wide baffle zone protects recent reclamation of 51.7 km 2 inner tideland. Development and conservation reconcile nicely. Although our 1987 trial plantings on offshore sands failed, a 1996 planting was successful in natural spread after crossing a 1 km wide tidal channel and germination has been significant. S. alterniflora will speed up sediment accretion leading to eventual reclamation of the largest offshore sands in China. They are still in the process of silting up, with a reported area of 1268 km 2 in 1992 and 1300 km 2 in 1997. They are 200 km long and 90 km wide. Different functions and uses of S. alterniflora are discussed. Its importance will be better under stood especially in a period of sea level rise.
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