--- title: China Daily - TIME - Partner Content - Ecological action spurs mangrove regrowth description: Ecological action spurs mangrove regrowth canonical: https://time.com/branded-content/china-daily/ecological-action-spurs-mangrove-regrowth/ article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-07-09T07:21:49.842Z article:modified_time: 2026-07-09T07:21:44.501Z article:section: Paid Partner Content og:title: China Daily - TIME - Partner Content - Ecological action spurs mangrove regrowth og:description: Ecological action spurs mangrove regrowth og:url: https://time.com/branded-content/china-daily/ecological-action-spurs-mangrove-regrowth/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb0d52e3abd297d3f/6a2a80d68902a184a76bc5d1/4.Ecological_action_spurs_mangrove_regrowth.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1575 og:image:height: 886 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: China Daily - TIME - Partner Content - Ecological action spurs mangrove regrowth twitter:description: Ecological action spurs mangrove regrowth twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb0d52e3abd297d3f/6a2a80d68902a184a76bc5d1/4.Ecological_action_spurs_mangrove_regrowth.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Ecological action spurs mangrove regrowth > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription.  _Lush mangroves thrive in Gangkou district of Fangchenggang, in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, in September. LIANG JIAJU / FOR CHINA DAILY_ By LI MENGHAN China has become one of the few countries to buck the global trend of coastal deforestation, achieving a 44% increase in mangrove forest area since 2000, according to the latest data from China’s Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. For Xu Hechang, 38, a crab farmer who leases 130 acres of coastal ponds in Zhanjiang in South China’s Guangdong province, the rapid improvement is tangible. “The shells of crabs raised here are harder and the meat is sweeter because of the clean water,” he said. “My family has farmed here for generations, but never at this scale. Now, with healthier mangroves, the crabs can sell for double the normal price.” The latest data shows that China’s total mangrove canopy now stands at approximately 78,332 acres, up from a low in 2000 of 54,363 acres. “Mangroves are the only woody plant communities that survive in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical regions — flooded at high tide and exposed at low tide,” said Ding Xinyuan, an associate professor at the mangrove protection research center of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang). “Despite being green, the name in Chinese translates to ‘red forest,’ referring to their tannin-rich inner bark, which oxidizes and turns deep red when exposed to air after cutting,” Ding said. “Ecologically, they are defined by their specialized aerial roots. These roots allow the trees to absorb oxygen in waterlogged mud, and some species can excrete excess salt through their leaves.” Ding said the tangled root systems act as natural nurseries, providing shelter and breeding grounds for fish, crabs and other benthic organisms. The dense roots also help purify water by slowing tidal currents, trapping suspended sediments and absorbing excess nitrogen and phosphorus from aquaculture runoff before it reaches the open sea. “Globally, they are among the planet’s most powerful carbon sinks, sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a rate significantly higher than that of a tropical rainforest of the same area,” Ding said. “The biggest challenge in restoration is not planting trees, but balancing nature with livelihoods.” Science has offered a way forward through an integrated mangrove-aquaculture model, such as the one used by crab farmer Xu. Unlike conventional ponds that enclose all water for farming or clear all vegetation to maximize space, the approach restores ecosystems while maintaining productivity. “We dig soil from the ponds to build islands, aiming to keep the total breeding capacity unchanged. This minimizes the impact on the yield of fish, shrimp and crabs while allowing the mangroves to breathe normally,” Ding said. He added that mangroves provide shelter for aquaculture species, purify the water and reduce disease, while nutrients and waste from the ponds serve as natural fertilizer for the trees. Ding said his lab is exploring techniques to produce higher-value products from integrated ponds. Preliminary results include an artificial intervention method that enhances roe richness in female crabs — a trait that commands 10 times the normal market price — and the development of what is believed to be the world’s first mangrove fruit wine using biological fermentation technology. While mangrove restoration in Guangdong illustrates the balance between conservation and livelihoods, the neighboring Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is demonstrating how mangroves can be used as protection against typhoons and storm surges. Li Xiaoyu, an engineer with the marine bureau in Fangchenggang, Guangxi, said that during his first visit to the Hongshahuan area in 2010, the site was littered with abandoned aquaculture ponds. In 2012, an ecological seawall improvement project was proposed, selecting Hongshahuan as a pilot area. “Mangroves are a unique ecosystem bridging land and sea. Their extensive root systems effectively reduce sediment loads in nearshore waters, while their dense yet flexible branches and trunks dissipate wave energy,” Li said, adding that the restoration work capitalized on those advantages. Completed over three years, China’s first demonstration ecological seawall stretches about 2 miles and features a layered structure. On the outermost tidal flats, 2.4 acres of mangroves were planted. Moving inward, the seawall body — built with artificial reef blocks — was covered with coastal vegetation. Behind it lies a landscaped forest belt and ecological corridor. Li said mangroves not only buffer waves and reduce erosion but also slow the solar weathering of embankments. Since its completion, the seawall has withstood more than 10 typhoons, including a severe storm in 2018 when maximum wind speeds reached about 90 miles per hour. “Ten years on, the seawall remains solid. The mangroves have flourished into a verdant woodland, showcasing remarkable progress in ecological restoration,” Li said. Similar efforts have taken shape nationwide. Fujian, home to the Zhangjiangkou National Mangrove Nature Reserve, has expanded greenbelts along the Zhangjiang River estuary. Hainan province, which boasts the country’s richest mangrove biodiversity, has focused on genetic research and invasive species removal. Despite being home to only about 0.2% of the world’s mangroves, China is demonstrating that restoration is not a choice between nature and humanity, but a synthesis of both. It is proving that even a small fraction of greenery can anchor a coastline, sustain a community and contribute to global ecological balance. [](https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/) ## China Daily Website - Connecting China Connecting the World Since its launch in 1981, China Daily has grown to become the nation’s leading English-language newspaper. With a combined print, online and mobile readership of more than 470 million, it serves a vital role in telling the world about China, providing valuable insight into the world’s second-largest economy. 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