Research progress and development trend of coastal wetland restoration in greater bay areas

Abstract

• We explored the progress and development trend of coastal restoration in greater bay. • Restoration methods are mainly based on biotic, hydrologic, and chemical processes. • Functional processes are critical to the maintenance of coastal ecosystem functions. We explored the potential for functional processes maintenance principles to be applied in coastal restoration. Greater bay areas are located in the transition zone between land and sea. Coastal wetlands play a key role in the ecological environment construction of greater bay areas. Due to the dual effects of high-intensity human activities and climate change, coastal wetlands in greater bay areas have suffered varying degrees of damage, including reduced area, habitat degradation, and impaired ecological functions. However, the research progress and development trend of restoration of damaged coastal wetland ecosystems has not yet been revealed, and the application theory of functional processes in coastal restoration is still unclear. Based on extensive literature research, our study reviewed the mechanisms and types of coastal wetland ecosystem restoration in greater bay areas. Coastal wetland ecosystem restoration technologies and methods are mainly based on the biological, hydrological, and chemical processes in greater bay areas. The current research progress and existing deficiencies of coastal wetland ecosystem restoration in greater bay areas are clarified. Combining years of research background in the coastal wetland field, focusing on the importance and criticality of coastal wetland functional processes to maintaining ecosystem functions, the main future research trends are proposed, which will solve the principal theory facing the restoration of coastal wetland ecosystems in greater bay areas. Our study will promote the application of new concepts and new techniques of coastal wetland restoration nationwide, and improve the overall level of ecological restoration in coastal wetland.