Analysis of coastal wetland changes using the DPSIR model: A case study in Xiamen, China

Over the past several decades, human activities have had significant impacts on coastal wetlands worldwide. Here, using a model of Drivers-Pressures-State-Impacts-Responses (DPSIR) and data collected from coastal wetlands in Xiamen, China, we have analyzed temporal changes in regional coastal wetland ecosystem structure and function from 1950 through 2005. The study period was divided into four parts for comparative analysis: pre-1980s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000 to present. Our results show that anthropogenic drivers of coastal wetland degradation in this region have increased substantially since 1950, and that this is correlated with a decline in coastal wetland function over the same period.