Multi-Level Comprehensive Assessment of Constructed Wetland Ecosystem Health: A Case Study of Cuihu Wetland in Beijing, China

Wenlong Wang, Mingzhu Sun, Yi Li, Siqi Zhao, Zhenming Zhang () and Xiaofeng Luan ()
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Wenlong Wang: School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Mingzhu Sun: School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Yi Li: School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Siqi Zhao: School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Zhenming Zhang: School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Xiaofeng Luan: School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-20

Abstract: Wetlands are one of the world’s three major ecosystems. They not only maintain regional ecological balance but also provide an important guarantee for human survival. Wetland ecosystem health assessment serves as the foundation for wetland protection, management, and restoration. In this study, the method for wetland ecosystem health assessment proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) was selected and improved to systematically evaluate the health status of the Cuihu wetlands’ ecosystem at three levels. The results revealed that the Cuihu wetlands’ landscape development intensity index was 1.55, the total landscape pattern value was 10 points, and the total score for rapid evaluation was 0.79. Levels I and II indicated that the Cuihu wetlands’ ecosystem was in a good near-natural state. Additionally, level III revealed that ecosystem health is higher in area B than in area A. The Cuihu wetlands were characterized by low species diversity and low distribution of benthic animals and aquatic plants. The comprehensive evaluation results revealed that the Cuihu wetlands’ ecosystem is in a good health. In the future, the health status of the wetland ecosystem should be monitored regularly, the cultivation and propagation of aquatic plants should be strengthened, and effective methods to improve water quality and reduce soil salinity should be used to achieve the best health status of the Cuihu wetlands.

Keywords: Cuihu wetlands; comprehensive evaluation of the landscape; rapid evaluation; biological integrity evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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