The role of an integrated coastal management framework in the long-term restoration of Yundang Lagoon, Xiamen, China

Thirty years ago, Yundang Lagoon, located in the centre of Xiamen in southeast China, was heavily polluted. A series of clean-up projects have been implemented since the 1980s. After three phases of restoration projects, the lagoon's environment quality has improved significantly, although it is not fully restored. Clean-up activities are still ongoing. In 1994, Xiamen became the first city in China to adopt an Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) strategy to address its coastal environmental problems. The restoration of Yundang Lagoon remained a priority and has been a key issue in the development of the city's pollution abatement and environmental management strategy. This study reviews and examines the restoration efforts and management scheme of Yundang Lagoon from 1988 to the present, analyses the environmental changes, explores the challenges of its restoration and analyses the benefits of ICM to its long-term restoration by extracting six key principles. Specific suggestions are proposed for future restoration and management work. Findings from this review may have general implications for decision makers to formulate future sustainability and management strategies on coastal environment restoration programmes.