5. Conclusion and discussion
In this research, scenario approach was employed as a useful tool for ecological planning of wetland restoration
in a human-dominated area, i.e. Hengshui Lake NNR, in which Wetland restoration and habitat alteration are
regarded as two optional directions of wetland mitigation to balance socioeconomic needs and wetland conservation.
Wetland Restoration Scenario (WRS) aims at restoring hydrological linkage among eastern, western and northern
parts of Hengshui Lake NNR, in which some measures should be taken to alter the existing ecotopes, such as water
level control, returning agricultural and to the lake and dredging. In addition, the adjacent area to the wetland region
would be rehabilitated by some specific management types such as human disturbance alleviation and non-point
pollution control, etc. WRS may only be realized with water supply from central line of South-to-North Water
Diversion Project, representing the ecological-oriented natural development for Hengshui Lake NNR. While
Habitat Alteration Scenario (HAS) addresses enhancement of wetland ecosystem function and habitat quality
mainly by the measures of habitat alteration, still maintaining the water storage function of main (eastern) part of
Hengshui lake by shaping more fluctuating lakeshore, this would need to take measures such as slope modification,
revegetation, plant restructuring and building foraging land, etc. The magnitude of wetland restoration and habitat
alteration would be constrained by existing water storage capacity. The habitat alteration would be mainly located at
farmland of western part of reserve, especially the core zone of the nature reserve would be taken the measures of
transmigrant combined with some management types, this scenario will have the lowest cost without large-scale
water level restoration. Restoration and Alteration Scenario (RAS) explored integrating the advantages of HAS
and RAS. In this integrated scenario, the eastern, western and northern parts of Hengshui Lake would be
hydrologically connected by large-scale water level restoration coupled with measures of habitat modification such
as shaping fluctuating lakeshore. Water gate eco-control would be implemented to restore its natural hydrological