To mitigate the effects of reclamation on coastal wetlands in China, the National Key Basic Research Program of China, entitled 'Ecological impacts of land reclamation on large river delta wetlands in China: Mechanisms and ecological restoration (project period: 2013-2017), was initiated in 2013. This research of the project focuses on the following key issues:

• Temporal-spatial changes in the coastal wetland reclamation and dynamics of ecological patterns of coastal wetlands
• Effects of coastal wetland reclamation on eco-hydrological processes and water environmental conditions
• Ecological integrity and biodiversity dynamics in response of coastal wetland reclamation activities
• Effects of coastal wetland reclamation on ecological services and wise use of coastal wetland resources; and 
• Ecological rehabilitation of damaged coastal wetlands and ecological compensation for coastal wetland reclamation.

Read more in the brochure.
 

A Chinese delegation had been visiting Dutch institutions and field working for one week in May 2014, as part of this project. This intensive visit to the Netherlands on May 21-25, gained fruitful meetings and discussions with Dutch colleagues, and also gained first-hand knowledge about the depth and breadth of excellent work through the field visits. The Dutch Partners which have been visited, were: IMARES, Delta Alliance, Deltares and UNESCO-IHE.