China expands mangrove coverage with ambitious protection and restoration efforts

China has successfully planted approximately 11,600 hectares of new mangroves since initiating a special action plan for mangrove protection and restoration (2020-2025), making it one of the few countries worldwide where mangrove coverage is increasing, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Sunday.

The announcement coincided with World Mangrove Day, observed annually on July 26 under a UNESCO designation.

The 2025 national land use change survey revealed that China's total mangrove area has reached 31,700 hectares, marking an increase of about 44 percent since the early 2000s. Alongside this expansion, the quality, stability, and carbon sequestration capacity of mangrove ecosystems have significantly improved, the announcement stated.

Currently, over 90 percent of the country's mangroves are safeguarded under the ecological protection red line. The legal framework has also been strengthened with the enactment of the Wetland Protection Law and revised regulations on nature reserves in recent years.

Beyond protection, coastal cities are exploring ways to translate mangrove conservation into economic value. Pilot programs include carbon credit auctions, judicial carbon credit schemes — where courts mandate environmental offenders to fund mangrove planting as restitution — and integrated models combining mangrove cultivation with aquaculture. Additionally, science education programs and ecotourism have been developed along mangrove coastlines.

The two authorities noted that the next step is to draft a new special action plan for mangrove protection and restoration from 2026 to 2030, which will guide local restoration efforts, clarify management responsibilities, and consolidate the gains made under the current plan.