Identifying new sites of significance to waterbirds conservation and their habitat modification in the Yellow and Bohai Seas in China

Chinese coastal wetlands in the Yellow and Bohai Seas provide a network of breeding, stopover, and wintering sites that are critical for the survival of many migratory waterbird species. However, land use change, particularly from coastal reclamation, has caused severe population declines of waterirds. Although 19 sites, covering 1.51 million hectares, were recognized as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) prior to 2009, bird surveys since 2009 have indicated additional sites may be important, and should be included in the protection area network. In this study, we compile waterbird distribution data (post-2009) from multiple sources, including citizen science databases, published and gray literatures. Using these data while also adopting internationally recognized criteria, we delineate new sites of significance to waterbird conservation. For these newly identified sites, using remote-sensed data, we develop a habitat suitability index (HSI) to identify any change in the same site between 2000 and 2015. The study results show that of 26 sites meeting criteria for significance to waterbird conservation in Chinese coastal wetlands of the Yellow and Bohai Seas, 9 sites are included within boundaries of existing IBAs, and 17 are new identified sites; Eight threatened waterbird species are recorded in 13 of the newly identified sites; and seven threatened species or species that occurred in internationally significant numbers have not been previously documented in existing IBAs; Decreases in habitat suitability are apparent at 16 of 17 newly identified sites between 2000 and 2015, as are declines in the extent of natural habitat. To curtail future population declines of waterbirds in coastal wetlands of the Yellow and Bohai Seas, prioritized conservation of these newly identified sites is urgently required. •26 sites meet the criteria for conservation significance for waterbirds in the Yellow and Bohai Seas in China, including 9 sites within the boundary of existing IBAs and 17 newly identified sites.•17 newly identified sites of significance to waterbirds conservation were identified in Yellow and Bohai seas in China.•Sixteen (94.12%) newly identified sites showed a decrease in habitat suitability from 2000 to 2015.