The Impact of Urbanization on Wetland Conservation:On the Conservation of Nansha Binhai Wetland in Guangzhou City
Authors: Yang Jiao , Li Xiaojuan , Li Qingwen , Wang Shaowei , Li Zhaobin , Leung Kamfai 
Published: May 2023

After more than 20 years of market-oriented reforms, China&#039;s economy has developed significantly so far. Guangzhou, in particular, has been developing rapidly, with its urbanisation rate increasing and its gross domestic product climbing, all of which have prompted Guangzhou to pay more attention to the ecological aspects of its development. The Nansha Coastal Wetland Scenic Area, located in the southernmost part of Guangzhou, is the largest coastal wetland in Guangzhou and the largest habitat for migratory birds in the city, as well as an important exemplary ecological reserve in Guangzhou&#039;s &quot;Road to Ecological Civilisation&quot;. With the inclusion of Nansha in the national development strategy of Guangzhou&#039;s &quot;Southward Expansion&quot;, the conflict between ecological protection of coastal wetlands and urban development has become increasingly prominent.

In this regard, this study intends to use theoretical analysis, literature research, comparative analysis, fieldwork, data analysis and case studies to analyse the current state of the ecological environment in Nansha, explore the main problems in the process of its &quot;southern development&quot;, and propose practical solutions for the construction and development of the ecological environment in Guangzhou, combining the theories of ecological economy, public goods and dissipative structure in Nansha. This paper is divided into seven chapters.

This paper is divided into seven chapters. Chapter 1 presents the significance, purpose, content, methodology and technical approach of the study. Chapter 2 defines the basic concepts and the characteristics of the terms &quot;Nantuo&quot;, &quot;Nansha New Area&quot;, &quot;coastal wetland&quot; and &quot;Nansha Binhai Wetland Scenic Area&quot;. The terms &quot;Nansha New Area&quot;, &quot;coastal wetland&quot; and &quot;Nansha Coastal Wetland Scenic Area&quot; are defined. The theoretical basis of ecological economy theory, public goods theory, dissipative structure theory and sustainable development theory is used to explain the importance of protecting wetlands. It also demonstrates the importance that countries attach to the conservation of wetland ecology through a review of domestic and international literature. Chapter 3 describes the formation process, development status, conservation content and conservation actions of the Nansha Binhai wetland. Chapter 4 analyses the apparent and invisible problems faced by the Nansha coastal wetlands. Chapter 5 draws lessons from the experience of wetland resources development and conservation in China and overseas. Chapter 6 presents recommendations and solutions to the existing wetland problems in the Nansha coastal area. Chapter 7 provides conclusions and outlook. The ecological vulnerability of the Nansha wetlands is obvious. The government has to speed up the construction of logistics, industries, railways and ports while protecting a large area of wetlands. In the conflict between industrial civilization and ecological civilization, maintaining the integrity of the Nansha wetland requires the participation of the whole society, so as to finally achieve a balance between economic development and ecological protection, providing important theoretical guidance for the protection of the ecological environment of the Nansha wetland, ecological planning and scenic area development under the development strategy of the &quot;southern expansion&quot; of Guangzhou&#039;s urban space.