Remote Observations in China’s Ramsar Sites: Wetland Dynamics, Anthropogenic Threats, and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an international framework through which countries identify and protect important wetlands. Yet Ramsar wetlands are under substantial anthropogenic pressure worldwide, and tracking ecological change relies on multitemporal data sets. Here, we evaluated the spatial extent, temporal change, and anthropogenic threat to Ramsar wetlands at a national scale across China to determine whether their management is currently sustainable. We analyzed Landsat data to examine wetland dynamics and anthropogenic threats at the 57 Ramsar wetlands in China between 1980 and 2018. Results reveal that Ramsar sites play important roles in preventing wetland loss compared to the dramatic decline of wetlands in the surrounding areas. However, there are declines in wetland area at 18 Ramsar sites. Among those, six lost a wetland area greater than 100 km2, primarily caused by agricultural activities. Consistent expansion of anthropogenic land covers occurred within 43 (75%) Ramsar sites, and anthropogenic threats from land cover change were particularly notable in eastern China. Aquaculture pond expansion and Spartina alterniflora invasion were prominent threats to coastal Ramsar wetlands. The observations within China’s Ramsar sites, which in management regulations have higher levels of protection than other wetlands, can help track progress towards achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study findings suggest that further and timely actions are required to control the loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems.