Classification System of Coastal Wetlands in China

Abstract

China has a long coastline and different types of coastal wetlands. Based on the analysis and investigation, the comprehensive classification system, hydrological classification system and vegetation classification system of coastal wetlands in China were established in this paper. In the comprehensive classification system, China's coastal wetlands were classified into two categories of natural wetlands and artificial wetlands, three classes of supra-tidal zone, intertidal zone and sub-tidal zone coastal wetlands, and 20 wetland types. In the hydrological classification system, natural wetlands were classified into saltwater(brackish water) wetlands and freshwater wetlands based on the salinity conditions; and perennial waterlogged wetlands and periodically waterlogged wetlands based on the hydrological condition, and 13 wetland types. Based on the characteristics of vegetation, China's costal wetlands were classified into 5 vegetation type groups, including coastal salt marshes, coastal marshes, shallow-water plant wetlands, mangrove swamps, seaweed wetlands, and 10 vegetation types and numbers of vegetation formations.