THE WETLAND TYPES, FUNCTIONS ANDCONSERVATION IN CHINA

According to preliminary statistics, there are 9. 4×10⁶ha of mire, 8.0×10⁶ha of lake, 2.1×10⁶ha of salt marsh, 2.7×10⁷ha of shallow sea (0-5m), and 3.8×10⁷ha of paddyfield, their total area amounts to 8.45 ×10⁷ha. Wetland consists of natural wetland system and man-made wetland system. According to hydrology, landform,soil and vegetation etc., natural wetland can be divided into the following types: marine, esturine, riverine, lacustrine,palustrine subsystems. On the basis of the wetland bottom compound, waterlogged state and vegetation forms, it can be subdivided into 2 wetland classes. Man-made wetland can be subdivided into 4 wetland classes. Wetland is a unique landscape in the earth and one of the most important living environment with rich resources and many functions. At present, 22 different types of Wetland Natural Reserves have been established in China, in which 7 Wetland Nature Reserves have been listed in international important wetlands of "The Wetland Convention".