Pearl river delta is undoubtedly the most promising area and a very dynamic tidal zone, especially in the southeast part of the delta, Zhuhai province, Modaomen estuary. The whole area of Zhuhai is a remote island scattered outside the mouth of the Pearl River，when after several generations of reclamation and these days, 20% of marshland in Modaomen estuary is replaced by aquatic dyke ponds, The small fishing tribes in Modaomen estuary developed into promising productive villages based on the dyke pond system during decades of reclamation. However, the dyke pond system and excessive fish farms on the one hand lead to ecological destruction and increase vulnerability to many natural disasters. On the other hand, dyke ponds system as the manmade wetland provides potentials for future alteration, such as ecological restoration and city development.
To provides the condition for the city transformation and solve many coastal natural disasters and ecological problems, such as salt water intrusion, soil subsidence, ecological destruction, etc., a new landscape framework for dyke pond systems, water safety, ecological development, and urbanization is needed. The adaptive landscape framework is a bold experiment to solve multiple problems of urban, agricultural, ecological issues using interdisciplinary knowledge.
Taking into account the extremely dynamic natural process of the estuary, which were originally regarded as resistance, and the traditional dyke pond system, the landscape framework creates the scenario of 3 structures, the natural brackish water wetland, the freshwater reservoir controlled by the double dyke system, the urban area integrating with the dyke pond system. The structure provides multi-function and values from ecological, social, and economic aspects. In terms of ecology value, the proposed landscape framework functions as a dynamic process rather than a static object, interacts with natural conditions to form a variety of habitats, creating a suitable environment for flora and fauna. In terms of social value, the proposed water system could restore, retain, and recharge freshwater to improves the site’s disaster-resistant and facilitates city development. It solves salt water intrusion, soil subsidence, lack of drinking water, etc. In terms of economical value, the improvement of the ecological environment, and the increasing resistance to natural disasters in this transitional area also provides the condition for the city transformation. It provides local residents with opportunities for entertainment, education, culture, and community construction.
The proposal, strategies, principles could provide the insight of using landscape as framework on the coastal area not only in Modaomen estuary but also in other coastal areas all over the world in time and space dimension, to deal with the spatial-social-ecological problems brought by the dyke pond system and city expansion.