As an important ecosystem type in the coastal zone, mangroves have important ecological functions, such as maintaining coastal biodiversity, preventing wind and consolidating the coast, promoting silt and building land. It is of great significance to understand the protected status of mangroves in the context of climate change and rapid urbanization. Based on the mangrove classification data from remote sensing interpretation, through vacancy analysis, the in-situ protection status of mangroves in China is analyzed. The results show that the total area of mangroves distributed in China is 264 km² (excluding the statistical data of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), of which 61.4% are protected in natural reserves. In terms of the main provinces where mangroves are distributed, the mangrove area distributed in Hainan Province is small but the protection proportion is high, while the mangrove area distributed in Guangxi and Guangdong Province is large but the proportion of protected areas is relatively low. Among the three mangrove types, Rhizophora apiculate-Xylocarpus granatum and Rhizophora stylosa-Bruguiera gymnorrhiza had high proportions (>90%) covered by reserves, but relatively small areas. In contrast, Kandelia candel-Aegiceras corniculatum-Avicennia marina had relatively low reserve coverage (52.6%), but a large area. The study puts forward the key areas of mangrove distribution outside the nature reserve, and suggests that they should be protected by delimiting ecological protection red lines.

1. Mcnally CG, Uchida E, Gold AJ. The effect of a protected area on the tradeoffs between short-term and long-term benefits from mangrove ecosystems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2011; 108(34): 13945–13950.

2. Xue D, Wu J, Zhao F. Implementation progress and future development strategy of biological species resources survey of the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Proceedings of the 8th Environment and Development Forum. Yiwu China Environmental Protection Federation; 2012.

3. Lei G. Zhongguo ziranbaohuqu mianlin de wenti he tiaozhan (Chinese) [Problems and challenges faced by nature reserves in China]. World Environment 2008; (4): 66–68.

4. Xu W, Xiao Y, Zhang J, et al. Strengthening protected areas for biodiversity and ecosystem services in China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2017; 114(7): 1601–1606.

5. Wu R, Zhang S, Yu D, et al. Effectiveness of China’s nature reserves: 111 representing ecological diversity. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 2011; 9(7): 383–389.

6. Li X, Zheng N, Zhao Z, et a l. Changjiang zhongxiayou shengtaiqu shidi baohukongque fenxi ji baohu wangluo gou jian (Chinese) [Analysis of wetland protection vacancy and construction of protection network in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River]. Journal of Ecology 2007; 27(12): 4979–4989.

7. Chen Y, Tang Z, Fang J Zhongguo ziranbaohuqu fenbu xianzhuang ji heli buju de tantao (Chinese) [Discussion on the distribution status and rational layout of nature reserves in China]. Biodiversity 2009; 17(6): 664–674.

8. Zheng Y, Zhang H, Niu Z, et al. Zhongguo guojiaji shidi ziranbaohuqu baohu chengxiao chubu pinggu (Chinese) [Scientific bulletin on preliminary evaluation of conservation effectiveness of China’s National Wetland]. Nature Reserve 2012; 57(4): 207–230.

9. Zhang Z, Xu Z, Cheng G Shengtai xitong fuwu yu ziran ziben jiazhi pinggu (Chinese) [Ecosystem services and valuation of natural capital]. Journal of Ecology 2001; 21(11): 1918–1926.

10. He B, fan H, Wang M, et al. Zhongguo hongshulin shidi wuzhong duoyangxing ji xingcheng (Chinese) [Species diversity in mangrove wetlands of China and its causation analyses]. Journal of Ecology 2007; 27(11): 4859–4870.

11. Zhang Q, Sui S. Zhongguo hongshulin shidi ziyuan ji baohu (Chinese) [The mangrove wetland resources and their conservation in China]. Journal of Natural Resources 2001; 16(1): 28–36.

12. Dasgupta R, Shaw R. Participatory Mangrove Management in a Changing Climate. Tokyo: Springer; 2017.

13. FAO. The World’s Mangroves 1980–2005. Rome: FAO; 2007.

14. Vijay V, Biradar R, Inamdar A, et al. Mangrove mapping and change detection around Mumbai (Bombay) using remotely sensed data. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Science 2005; 34(3): 310–315.

15. He B, Li R, Chai M, et al. Threat of heavy metal contamination in eight mangrove plants from the Futian mangrove forest, China. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 2014; 36(3): 467–476.

16. Meng X, Xia P, Li Z, et al. Mangrove degradation and response to anthropogenic disturbance in the Maowei Sea (SW China) since 1926 AD: Mangrove-derived OM and pollen. Organic Geochemistry 2016; 98: 166–175.

17. Polidoro BA, Elfes CT, Sanciangco JC, et al. Conservation status of marine biodiversity in Oceania: An analysis of marine species on the IUCN red list of threatened species. Journal of Marine Biology 2011; (1): 247030.

18. List of national nature reserves of the Ministry of ecological environment of the people’s Republic of China [Internet]. Available from: http://www.zhb.gov.cn/stbh/zrbhq/qgzrbhqml//.

19. Wang Y, Wu X. Zhanjiangshi hongshulin ziyuan zhuangkuang ji baohu chengxiao (Chinese) [Mangrove resources in Zhanjiang City and their protection effects]. Forestry Science and Technology Management 2004; (2) 33–34, 36.

20. Zhao F, Zhang H, Liu H, et al. Fujian zhangjiangkou hongshulin shidi baohuqu yaogan jiance ji baohu fenxi (Chinese) [Remote sensing measurement and protection analysis of Mangrove Wetland Reserve in Zhangjiangkou, Fujian]. Journal of Northwest Forestry University 2011; 26(L): 160–165.

21. Ouyang Z, Zheng H, Xiao Y, et al. Improvements in ecosystem services from investments in natural capital. Science 2016; 352(6292): 1455–1459.

22. Ouyang Z, Wang Q, Zheng H, et al. Remote sensing survey and evaluation of ten-year changes in the national ecological environment (2000–2010). Journal of the Chinese Academy of Sciences 2014; 29(4): 462–466.

23. Editorial Committee of Chinese vegetation map, Chinese Academy of Sciences Vegetation Atlas of China. Beijing: Science Press; 2001.

24. Lindgren JP, Cousins SAO. Island biogeography theory outweighs habitat amount hypothesis in predicting plant species richness in small grassland remnants. Landscape Ecology 2017; 32(9): 1895–1906.

25. Keith DA, Rodríguez JP, Rodríguez-Clark KM, et al. Scientific Foundations for an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems. Plos One 2013; 8(5): e62111.

26. State Oceanic Administration 2002 China marine environmental quality bulletin. Beijing: State Oceanic Administration; 2003.

27. Polidoro BA, Carpenter KE, Collins L, et al. The loss of species: Mangrove extinction risk and geographic areas of global concern. Plos One 2010; 5(4): e10095.

28. Tam NF, Wong Y. Conservation and sustainable exploitation of mangroves in Hong Kong. Trees 2002; 16(2/3): 224–229.

29. wetlands list of China’s internationally important wetlands [Internet]. Available from: http://www.shidiorg/links.html.

30. Wang W, Wang M. Zhongguo hongshulin (Chinese) [China mangrove]. Beijing: Science Press; 2007.

31. Liang S. Guangxi hongshu zhiwu qunluo tezheng de chubu yanjiu (Chinese) [A preliminary study on the characteristics of mangrove communities in Guangxi]. Guangxi Science 2000; 7(3): 210–216.

32. Zhang Z, Hu G, Liang S. Woguo hongshulin fenbu xiangzhuang baohu ji shengtai jiazhi (Chinese) [Distribution status, protection and ecological value of mangroves in China]. Biological Bulletin 2006; 41(4): 911.

33. Han W, Gao X, Lu C, et al. Zhongguo hongshulin shengtaixitong shengtaijiazhi pinggu (Chinese) [Ecological value evaluation of mangrove ecosystem in China]. Ecological Science 2000; 19(1): 40–46.