Zoning for management in wetland nature reserves: a case study using Wuliangsuhai Nature Reserve, China

Abstract

BackgroundZoning is a fundamental tool for the effective management of nature reserves. A three-zone model (core zone, buffer zone, and experimental zone) has been applied to nature reserves in China since 1980s; however, this model appears not fit for all types of nature reserves, especially wetlands.Case descriptionWuliangsuhai is such a typical wetland reserve, which can represent most of the other wetland reserves in China, for both its human utilization, and for its function as the bird habitat. The “Component-Process-Service” (CPS) framework of the Convention on Wetlands allows a determination of the “ecological character” of the wetland and also allows identification of potential threats, providing thus a perspective for management opportunities and challenges.Discussion and evaluationApplying the CPS framework to Wuliangsuhai wetland nature reserve, we have had a better understanding of the ecosystem services and its relationship with the ecological process and components of the wetland. A comparison of effectiveness in maintaining ecosystem services by the two zoning models (the existing three-zone model, and the new zoning model) was made.ConclusionsThe study suggested introducing an additional risk-control zone to be more effective in managing and alleviating threats to the ecological character than the standard 3-zone system. Furthermore, a “dynamic” zoning that takes into account the annual variation in habitat and avifauna distribution, as an elaboration of the Four-zone structure, may achieve the desired conservation objectives in an even more effective manner. The proposed zonation structure has the added benefit of promoting harmonization between nature conservation and local sustainable development.

Perspectives on Zonation in Ramsar Sites, and Other Protected Areas: Making Sense of the Tower of Babel

“…As wetlands are often connected by groundwater flows, they exist in three (or if additionally affected by strong seasonal change, four) dimensional world, and obviously some of these effects and links are also three-or four-dimensional. This temporal addition to the three-dimensional nature of ecosystem process that characterize wetlands especially necessitates more complex zonation systems [5].…”

“…Taking account of all the above, and the fact that many recent Ramsar site nominations have been large areas that include other forms of land use and land categorisation than wetlands, it is clear we need a new paradigm for management zonation in wetlands. Table 3 shows a possible way forward building on Bridgewater et al [26] and Zeng et al [5].…”

Management zonation and its implementation at a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a case study for the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

“…In addition, panoramic vehicles and electric boats were used to transport visi- tected area is the main consideration. The process can include various ways of collecting and interpreting data, for instance satellite image data combined with field data (Newman et al 2007), use of zoning models (Sabatini et al 2007), Component-Process-Services (CPS) conceptual framework comparing two zoning models (Zeng et al 2012), or weighting and ranking the priority areas (Soosairaj et al 2007).…”

Numerical Response of Migratory Shorebirds to Prey Distribution in a Large Temperate Arid Wetland, China

“…About 50.9% of the wetland surface area is covered by emergent plants and 43.7% by submerged plants; the remaining 5.4% consists of sandbars and shoals [22]. The wetland is recognized as one of the most important areas for birds in the vast, arid region of northwest China.…”

“…It consists of a large area of open water with an area of shallow water near the shore. All three sampling sites provide foraging and resting habitats for shorebirds [12, 22]. A fixed transect with variable lengths was established at each sampling site.…”