China's Degraded Environment Enters A New Normal

Ke Zhang; John A Dearing; Shilu L Tong; Terry P Hughes

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2015.12.002

China's Degraded Environment Enters A New Normal

Trends Ecol Evol. 2016 Mar;31(3):175-177. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.12.002. Epub 2016 Jan 2.

Authors

Ke Zhang¹, John A Dearing², Shilu L Tong³, Terry P Hughes⁴

Affiliations

¹ Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia. Electronic address: ke.zhang1@jcu.edu.au.
² Palaeoecological Laboratory, Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
³ School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
⁴ Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.

PMID: 26753784
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.12.002

Abstract

China is undergoing unprecedented social and ecological shifts, a harbinger of similar changes that will unfold in developing nations over coming decades. Many of China's degraded environments represent a new normal. Acknowledging this reality will allow societies to make informed decisions that recognize the undervalued costs of environment degradation.

Keywords: ecosystem services; regime shift; resilience; sustainability.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

China
Conservation of Natural Resources*
Demography
Developing Countries*
Environment