Study on Classification System for Wetland Types in China

Based on reviewing the current international and national main wetland classification systems,and considering synthetically the wetland types in China and the requirements of data management in the wetland inventories of different levels and scales,this paper brought forward Chinese wetland classification system that was hierarchical in structure.It included six levels,there were 2 wetland types in level 1,which were classified by the their origins,9 types in level 2,16 types in level 3,41 total types including 29 types natural wetlands and 12 types human-made wetlands in level 4.Furthermore levels 5 and 6 were classified for those wetlands with more complex types.This system could be applied to the wetland classifications in those scales such as China nationwide,the first drainage region,province,and wetland complex wetland inventories.