Wildlife of
Jiangsu Sheng

Before warm-temperate to subtropical broadleaf forests and mixed woods on plains, low hills, and lake and river edges; now mostly small regrown patches, shelterbelts, and planted mixed woodlands in parks.

Limited and fragmented; small remnants and planted/secondary woodland scattered across the province, with slightly higher presence in the southwest (around Nanjing) and protected areas.

A dense network of rivers (Yangtze, Huai system), canals, oxbows, and shallow lakes (notably Taihu and Hongze) with reedbeds, submerged vegetation, aquaculture ponds, and floodplain waters.

Widespread across the whole province; especially concentrated in the Yangtze Delta lake district (south) and around Hongze Lake and connected waterways (central-north).

Floodplain marshes, riparian wetlands, lake-edge reedbeds, and internationally important coastal wetlands including tidal flats and saltmarsh mosaics that host migratory waterbirds and shorebirds.

Common but heavily modified; major continuous blocks along the coast (Yancheng and adjacent tidal flats) and around large lakes and river floodplains.

Nearshore Yellow Sea waters influenced by river discharge and strong tidal dynamics; productive coastal seas supporting fisheries, benthic communities, and estuarine mixing zones near the Yangtze outflow.

Along the full Jiangsu coastline and adjacent nearshore shelf waters; strongest marine influence on the coastal fringe and estuaries.

Lower Yangtze mainstem and distributaries plus Huai River-connected channels; engineered banks and navigation canals are common, with remaining riparian stretches important for waterbirds and fish movement.

Large shallow lakes (e.g., Taihu, Hongze) with extensive littoral zones, reedbeds, and fisheries/aquaculture; eutrophication and shoreline hardening are key pressures.

Dense aquaculture and irrigation pond landscapes across the plains (carp/crab/shrimp systems), forming a semi-natural water mosaic that still supports herons, egrets, and amphibians.

Freshwater marshes and lake-edge reed swamps plus restored/managed wetlands in reserves; vital for flood storage and migratory birds.

Reedbeds and sedge marshes around lake margins and floodplain depressions; also coastal saltmarsh vegetation behind tidal flats.

Yangtze estuary influence at the southern edge of the province and multiple smaller tidal river mouths along the coast; high productivity and nursery habitat for fish and invertebrates.

Long, low-lying coastline with extensive intertidal mudflats and reclaimed areas; globally important staging and wintering habitat for shorebirds (notably around Yancheng).

Sandy to silty coastal stretches occur but are often narrow and modified by seawalls and reclamation; used by coastal birds and recreation in some areas.

Very limited due to the predominantly alluvial, muddy coast; small engineered rock revetments substitute for natural rocky habitats.

Small patches of secondary deciduous broadleaf woodland on low hills and in older landscape parks; often mixed with planted species.

Mostly plantation and ornamental conifers (windbreaks, park plantings) rather than extensive native conifer forests.

Patchy mixed woodland and shelterbelts in an agricultural matrix, providing connectivity for common birds and small mammals.

Highly fragmented forest cover overall, concentrated in low uplands around Nanjing and in scattered reserves/parks elsewhere.

Dominant land cover: rice-wheat rotations in the south/central plains, mixed cropping in the north, plus widespread aquaculture; high habitat conversion but some biodiversity persists in field margins and water networks.

Large metropolitan areas and industrial corridors (e.g., Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi) with intense land use, impervious surfaces, and engineered waterways.

Expanding peri-urban zones with canals, ponds, landscaping, and remnant farmland that can still support adaptable wildlife.