China enhances coastal ecosystem protection and restoration

China has been actively protecting and restoring its coastal ecosystems, with approximately 112 kilometers of coastline and over 6,000 hectares of coastal wetlands already restored since 2020.

Mangroves, coastal salt marshes, and sea grass beds are internationally recognized as the three major blue carbon ecosystems as they absorb and store large amounts of carbon dioxide.

It is estimated that coastal blue carbon ecosystems across the globe absorb about 200 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, with carbon stored in marine sediments being 50 times greater than that in the atmosphere, according to Central China Television.

China has been implementing protection and restoration projects for these blue carbon coastal zone ecosystems since 2020, leveraging their functions of disaster mitigation to protect against tides and waves and stabilize shorelines.

The projects have not only restored the natural ecology of coastal zones but also built a green, low-carbon coastal safety barrier. Besides, they have enhanced the carbon sequestration capabilities of these blue carbon ecosystems, promoted ocean carbon sinks, and realized the value of marine ecological products.

To safeguard against marine disasters, the country has also established early warning systems in 34 high-risk red tide areas, while 234 red tide incidents over the past five years were successfully dealt with.

A national list and distribution map of local biological outbreak risks have been developed, along with monitoring systems for red tides, green tides, sargassum, and crown-of-thorns starfish. The mechanisms and impacts of such disasters were analyzed and assessed to ensure the safe and healthy development of coastal economies and societies.