In order to improve the regional environment in light of the socioeconomic development that has taken place in China's coastal regions, ecological engineering construction projects must be designed and implemented, including (but not limited to) (1) the use of artificial beach restoration technology, (2) the construction of coastal protective forest belts, (3) the development of a shoreline farmland shelterbelt network, (4) the establishment of new mangrove forest areas, and (5) the restoration and protection of wetlands. The implementation of such projects can help prevent and mitigate against natural disasters, whilst at the same time protecting the environment, sheltering the land against wind and sand damage, conserving water and soil, preventing aquatic pollution, ensuring waterway security, purifying the atmosphere, and conserving biodiversity, ultimately forming an ecological barrier to achieve regional ecosystem balance. Therefore, the construction of coastal ecological engineering projects is crucial to securing ecological safety and improving the environmental status of coastal areas; plus, it is of great importance to the promotion of coordinated socioeconomic development in these regions.

Part 1 of this review synthesizes recent research on status and climate vulnerability of freshwater and saltwater wetlands, and their contribution to addressing climate change (carbon cycle, adaptation, resilience). Peatlands and vegetated coastal wetlands are among the most carbon rich sinks on the planet sequestering approximately as much carbon as do global forest ecosystems. Estimates of the consequences of rising temperature on current wetland carbon storage and future carbon sequestration potential are summarized. We also demonstrate the need to prevent drying of wetlands and thawing of permafrost by disturbances and rising temperatures to protect wetland carbon stores and climate adaptation/resiliency ecosystem services. Preventing further wetland loss is found to be important in limiting future emissions to meet climate goals, but is seldom considered. In Part 2, the paper explores the policy and management realm from international to national, subnational and local levels to identify strategies and policies reflecting an integrated understanding of both wetland and climate change science. Specific recommendations are made to capture synergies between wetlands and carbon cycle management, adaptation and resiliency to further enable researchers, policy makers and practitioners to protect wetland carbon and climate adaptation/resiliency ecosystem services.