China has become one of the few countries to buck the global trend of coastal deforestation, achieving a 44 percent increase in mangrove forest area since 2000, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.
The data show that China’s total mangrove canopy now stands at approximately 31,700 hectares, up from a low in 2000 of 22,000 hectares. The milestone establishes China as one of the few maritime nations globally to secure net-positive growth in intertidal wetlands.
In the 2000s China’s protection efforts intensified. Progress accelerated further in the past few years after the Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration rolled out a special action plan for mangrove protection and restoration (2020-25), setting targets to create 9,050 hectares of new mangroves and restore 9,750 hectares of degraded forests.
Prioritizing the protection of mangrove ecosystems, authorities banned further reclamation of tidal flats, incorporated remaining mangrove stands into ecological protection red lines and promoted tailored, science-based restoration approaches.
Ecologically, mangroves “are defined by their specialized aerial roots. These roots allow the trees to absorb oxygen in waterlogged mud, and some species can excrete excess salt through their leaves … They are the only woody plant communities that survive in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical regions — flooded at high tide and exposed at low tide ” said Ding Xinyuan, associate professor at the Mangrove Protection Research Center of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang).
Mangroves provide shelter and breeding grounds for fish, crabs, etc
Ding said the tangled root systems act as natural nurseries, providing shelter and breeding grounds for fish, crabs and other benthic organisms. The dense roots also help purify water by slowing tidal currents, trapping suspended sediments and absorbing excess nitrogen and phosphorus from aquaculture runoff before it reaches the open sea.
“Globally, they are among the planet’s most powerful carbon sinks, sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a rate significantly higher than that of a tropical rainforest of the same area,” he said.
Guangdong is home to China’s largest mangrove area, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the national total. Yet much of its suitable intertidal land had long been converted into aquaculture ponds that supported tens of thousands of coastal households.
Science has offered a way forward through an integrated mangrove-aquaculture model. Unlike conventional ponds that enclose all water for farming or clear all vegetation to maximize space, this approach restores ecosystems while maintaining economic productivity.
Ding explained the approach developed by the Mangrove Protection Research Center involved digging soil from the ponds to build islands, so as to keep the total aquaculture breeding capacity unchanged. In the five years to 2025 5,500 hectares of new mangroves were planted and 2,500 hectares of degraded forests rehabilitated.
The mangroves provide shelter for aquaculture species, purify the water and reduce disease, while nutrients and waste from the ponds serve as natural fertilizer for the trees. “This minimizes the impact on the yield of fish, shrimp and crabs while allowing the mangroves to breathe normally”, Ding added.
Mangroves also provide protection against typhoons and storm surges
Li Xiaoyu, an engineer with the Marine Bureau in Guangxi, said storm damage in the caused the abandonment of aquaculture ponds. In 2012, an ecological seawall improvement project was proposed, with Hongshahuan as a pilot area. This was completed in 2015 and features a layered structure.
On the outermost tidal flats, 9,913 square meters of mangroves were planted. Moving inward, the seawall body — built with artificial reef blocks — was covered with coastal vegetation. Behind it lies a landscaped forest belt and ecological corridor.
Li explained that the extensive root systems of mangroves “effectively reduce sediment loads in nearshore waters, while their dense yet flexible branches and trunks dissipate wave energy.” He said mangroves not only buffer waves and reduce erosion but also slow the solar weathering of embankments. Since its completion, the seawall has withstood more than 10 typhoons, including a severe storm in 2018 when maximum wind speeds reached 144 kilometres/hour.
Similar efforts have taken shape nationwide. Fujian, home to the Zhangjiangkou National Mangrove Nature Reserve, has expanded greenbelts along the Zhangjiang River estuary. Hainan province, which boasts the country’s richest mangrove biodiversity, has focused on genetic research and invasive species removal. Coastal provinces have incorporated mangrove targets into their local five-year plans, helping fulfill the national blueprint.
China has also shown a willingness to share its experience internationally and expanded its South-South technical cooperation with countries across Asia and the Pacific seeking to restore mangroves.
Source (Edited from): China Daily, June 8, 2026. https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202606/08/WS6a261358a310d6866eb4ceb4.html
