As Mangrove Forests Expand in China, Bird Species Multiply.
China's mangrove forests grew from about 26,000 acres in 1998 to roughly 70,000 acres in 2020, and recorded bird species in them rose from 148 to 397, researchers report.
China's effort to revive its mangrove forests has been followed by a large increase in forest area and in the number of bird species recorded in them. The findings come from research published in The Innovation and summarized by Yale Environment 360.
China lost roughly half of its mangrove forests during the last half of the 20th century. Satellite imagery showed that mangroves covered about 26,000 acres of coast in 1998. By 2020, that figure had risen to roughly 70,000 acres.
Planting was one part of the recovery, as China pushed to establish mangroves across large areas. Researchers said warming also played a role by allowing trees to move northward. New laws aimed at protecting mangroves helped ensure that young forests survived.
Mangroves grow in intertidal waters, and their dense, tangled roots slow incoming waves. That keeps coastal water clear of sediment, and the roots also absorb pollution. Clearer water supports plankton, which attract fish and other sea creatures, and those animals in turn attract birds. According to the research, the number of bird species recorded in mangrove forests rose from 148 in 1998 to 397 in 2020.
The study did not separate planted forests from natural ones. Other research has found that natural mangrove stands host a greater diversity of wildlife, so the bird totals do not show how much each type of forest contributed to the increase.
The recovery is not limited to China. Globally, half of all mangroves were destroyed in the 20th century, many of them cleared to make room for fish and shrimp farms. Recent analyses have found that mangroves are now expanding faster than they are declining. The abandonment of aquaculture has been a major factor, and warming has also allowed mangroves to colonize new areas, as it has in China.
At a Glance
- Mangrove area in China rose from about 26,000 acres in 1998 to roughly 70,000 acres in 2020, per satellite imagery.
- Bird species recorded in Chinese mangrove forests increased from 148 in 1998 to 397 in 2020.
- China lost roughly half of its mangrove forests during the last half of the 20th century.
- The study, published in The Innovation, did not distinguish between planted and natural mangrove forests.
Sources
This brief was written by Brightside Report from the reporting linked above. Spot an error? Request a correction.