Exploring Nature-based Solutions on Refined Waterbird Habitats Restoration in High-density Urban Area: A Case Study of the Futian Mangrove National Important Wetland in Shenzhen, China

Abstract

As a highly urbanized bay area bustling with socio-economic activities, Shenzhen Bay is a pivotal stopover and wintering habitat for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The Futian Mangrove National Important Wetland, located in the northeast of Shenzhen bay, is a part of the Guangdong Neilingding–Futian National Nature Reserve. As the smallest national nature reserve in China, the wintering habitat of migratory birds has been significantly impacted by the compacted surrounding built-up environment. It has become an urgent need for refined high-quality ecological restoration for the habitats. This project leveraged Nature-based Solutions to develop a refined model for the ecological restoration of coastal wetland waterbird habitats in compact urban areas. By analyzing waterbird behaviors and habitat requirements, this model outlined six strategies: water surface expansion, water level control, hydrodynamic conditions improvement, shoal transformation, adaptive vegetation management, and disturbance control. To effectively guide the restoration implementation, high-, medium-, and low-adaptive approaches were proposed accordingly. After restoration in 2022, notable increases in target species, such as Platalea minor, were observed. The variety of waterbirds of the reserve in 2022 increased by 33% compared with 2021, while increased by 50.9% compared with 2016, significantly enhancing ecosystem services of the coastal area. As urban renewal in China is shifting towards spatial redevelopment, this model offers valuable insights for ecological restoration aiming at coastal wetland waterbird conservation across the country, and substantially supports establishing the "International Mangrove Center" in Shenzhen.

● Explores Nature-based Solutions on refined coastal wetland restoration in highly urbanized area

● Summarizes the universal habitat requirements for five categories of waterbirds

● Proposes six ecological restoration strategies for waterbird habitats and corresponding high-, medium-, and low-adaptive approaches

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Nature-based Solutions / Coastal Wetland / Ecological Restoration / Waterbird Habitat / Biodiversity

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Acknowledgements

· "Research on the Driving Mechanisms of Coastal Urban Green Space Resilience: A Case Study of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area", National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52078004) · "Research on the Resilient Disaster Mitigation Effects and Driving Mechanisms of Urban Green Infrastructure in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area", Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2021A1515012246) · "Research and Application Demonstration for Coastal Zone Pollution Reduction–Carbon Sequestration Increase–Disaster Response Coupling Mechanism and Synergistic Efficiency Technology", Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (No. KCXST20221021111416039) · "Development of River–Bay Habitat Restoration and Ecological Resilience Building Technologies", Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (No. KCXFZ20211020164205009)

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