Identifying conservation and restoration priorities for degraded coastal wetland vegetations: Integrating species distribution model and GeoDetector

The ongoing degradation of seagrass and seaweed is of global concern. Comprehending the spatial distribution of these wetland vegetation types and the threats they face becomes critical for effective conservation and restoration efforts. In this study, we combined a species distribution model and geographical detector to propose a novel framework for mapping the distribution and disturbance of degraded coastal wetland vegetation in sparsely recorded areas and identifying conservation and restoration priorities. Guangxi is a province in China known for its extensive coastal wetland vegetation. In our study of Guangxi, habitats suitable for two degraded vegetation types, i.e., seagrass and seaweed, were mapped using the maximum entropy model; 669.44 km2 of seagrass habitat and 929.69 km2 of seaweed habitat were identified. The geographical detector model was used to analyze anthropogenic disturbance caused by four local disturbance factors: shoreline development, fisheries, waterways, and ports and anchorages. Shoreline development was identified as the disturbance factor with the strongest impact on potential habitats of both vegetation types. According to these findings, 48.40 %–64.23 % of the vegetation habitats suffered from high anthropogenic disturbance. Preexisting nature reserves had not effectively protected wetland vegetation from human disturbance. Based on the spatial pattern of vegetation habitat and comprehensive anthropogenic disturbance, conservation and restoration priorities for seagrasses and seaweeds covering an area of 302.26 km2 were further mapped. Our results thus help improve wetland vegetation conservation by providing basic information, and they provide a tool to support site planning for seagrass and seaweed conservation and restoration. [Display omitted] •This is the first study to jointly use SDMs and GeoDetector for wetland habitats.•A new framework for setting coastal wetland conservation and restoration priorities was proposed.•Potential habitats of seagrass and seaweed and the disturbance were mapped in Guangxi, China.•Construction of artificial shorelines overlapped highly with wetland habitats.•Current nature reserves do not protect wetland vegetation from human disturbance.