Biodiversity conservation and restoration of wetlands in suburban areas: challenges and prospects
Shaoyi Wang A , Hailan Yu B , Huabin Shentu A , Caiwei Gu C , Senjun Huang A , Libing Wang A , Heng Zheng A , Junchao Ma A , Jianguang Wang A and Jun Wei
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Abstract
Wetland loss threatens global biodiversity. Peri-urban wetlands face acute pressures from urban expansion.
Investigate biodiversity and land-cover changes in two wetlands undergoing suburbanisation near Hangzhou, China.
Seasonal field surveys of birds, fish and amphibians, coupled with remote-sensing analysis of land-cover changes from 2009 to 2020.
Suburban wetlands exhibited unique degradation patterns, including reduced species diversity, simplified community structures and proliferation of invasive species, with 91 bird species being recorded, dominated by common residents, 25 still-water fish species with few carnivores and migratory species, and 5 ubiquitous amphibian species detected. Species richness was lower than in nearby conserved wetlands. From 2009 to 2020, 6–7% of the wetlands were lost to urban expansion and converted to artificial vegetation or infrastructure.
Ecological degradation is driven by rapid urbanisation, with habitats being fragmented by roads and converted to artificial land covers. Water pollution from insufficient treatment and abandoned aquaculture further impairs habitats.
Innovative integrated-management framework was proposed for wetlands biodiversity restoration in suburban area. Key strategies include (1) modernising traditional circular economies to sustain wise use, (2) wildlife-friendly infrastructure design, (3) targeted invasive species control, and (4) adaptive co-management informed by ongoing monitoring. This socio-ecological systems approach aims to harmonise biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage and sustainable development in threatened suburban wetlands.
Keywords: biodiversity, ecology, invasive species, land use, restoration, sustainability development, urbanisation, wetlands.
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