A new study using satellite data from 50 Chinese cities shows that China's Marine Eco-environmental Restoration Program, backed by over $7 billion, has led to significant coastal recovery. Salt marsh area jumped nearly sevenfold and mangroves quadrupled between 2015 and 2023. The estimated yearly carbon capture rate roughly doubled to 73,000 tons, and natural shoreline share rose from 39% to 79%. The program restored 200,000 acres of coast, much of it former fish-farming ground. Researchers found the economic benefits of restored ecosystems, including storm buffering and fish nurseries, rose from $5.7 billion to $8.1 billion per year. Over a decade, returns exceeded spending by more than six times. The satellite-based scoring method could help other countries track restoration cheaply.
