Integrative assessment and management implications on ecosystem services loss of coastal wetlands due to reclamation

Abstract

The coastal wetland ecosystems are the critical ecological infrastructure and have a close relation to coastal sustainability. Rapid urbanization lead to a big demand of coastal reclamation in China thereafter caused the loss and degradation of coastal wetlands. In this study, we presented modified model suitable for quantifying ecosystem service values of different coastal system subtypes and assessing their loss due to coastal reclamations with a case of coastal agriculture-dominated city of Eastern China (Lianyungang). We focused on four major agriculture-related ecosystem services as follows: food production, raw material supply, disturbance regulation, and water purification. The results showed that: 32,346 ha of loss in coastal wetlands resulted in US$ 806 million year−1 loss in ecosystem service. The modified ecosystem service valuing models enable achieving categorized management of coastal ecological infrastructures. Furthermore, this study showed how to integrate the ecosystem service estimate into assessment, management, planning, restoration, and compensations of coastal ecological infrastructures.