China releases handbooks on ecosystem restoration

IUCN supported the publication of four handbooks on ecosystem restoration for coastal hazard mitigation, released by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) of China. The reports are available both in English and Chinese. The handbooks were unveiled during the 2024 China-Island Countries Ocean Cooperation Forum, held in Fuzhou, China in early November.

The release of these handbooks comes at a crucial time, as global climate change has intensified the risk of marine disasters, such as typhoons and storm surges, which pose serious threats to lives, property, as well as the sustainable economic and social development of coastal areas.

Mr Yan Zhang, Head of IUCN China,stated, “Coastal ecosystems serve as natural buffers, effectively shielding shorelines from tides and waves. They not only support diverse marine life, but also deliver multiple benefits, including disaster risk reduction, biodiversity conservation, environmental improvement, and food resources.”

Recognising the value of these natural buffers, MNR and other agencies in China have actively implemented a series of coastal protection and restoration projects since 2020. These initiatives have significantly strengthened the resilience of coastal areas against typhoons, storm surges, and other marine disasters.

“To provide better practical guidance, Marine Hazard Mitigation Service of MNR has worked with IUCN and other relevant agencies to develop and update four guidebooks for ecosystem restoration to mitigate coastal hazards, focusing on coastal salt marshes, oyster reefs, sandy coasts, and seagrass beds,” introducedMr Guodong Xu, Director General of Marine Hazard Mitigation Service of MNR: “They were built on the latest research and practices from China and other countries, outlining procedures and approaches of the entire restoration process, including baseline surveys, problem analysis, objective setting, restoration measures, monitoring and evaluation, and adaptive management.”

Featuring visual illustrations, technical specifications and case studies, the four handbooks are anticipated to be widely applicable and highly practical. The release of both English and Chinese versions aims also to share China’s experiences in ecosystem restoration to mitigate coastal hazards with the world and promote the synergistic development of ecology, safety and economy in coastal areas.

Taking advantage of the international knowledge and expert networks, IUCN has collaborated through the China office and provided inputs into the development of the four handbooks, focused on editorial guidance to improve the handbooks’ structure for an international audience, and recommendations for integrating Nature-based Solutions. These efforts help make the handbooks more accessible to a broader range of readers interested in ecosystem restoration.

Building on these efforts, MNR and IUCN are calling for further cooperation among all stakeholders on ecosystem protection and restoration for coastal hazard mitigation, and strengthened knowledge exchange on experiences and good practices, along with concerted efforts to address global challenges such as natural disasters.

The handbooks can be accessed and downloaded

文章引自IUCN官網