The Transformation of Coastal Governance Pattern from Human Ecology to Political Ecology—A Case Study of Jimei Peninsula, Xiamen, China

Abstract

The coastal zone, situated at the sensitive interface between land and sea, serves as a pivotal area of extensive human economic activities. As one of China's economic special zones, Xiamen exemplifies the comprehensive trajectory of coastal governance in China. This research adopts an interdisciplinary approach grounded in historical geography and political ecology, employing data collection methods encompassing historical literature, field surveys, and interviews. The research findings indicate that:(1) The year 1994 witnessed the pivotal role played by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in connecting Jimei Peninsula from a local context to the international arena, thus signifying a momentous turning point in the process of scale reconstruction. However, the subsequent implementation of the Coastal Exclusion Policy in 2002 had detrimental consequences, leading to the disintegration of the local scale, the erosion of maritime culture, and the disregard for the livelihood security of displaced coastal populations.(2)The Coastal Exclusion Policy serves as an instrumental tool for implementing scale politics, while its functional realignment has had profound implications for the coastal zone, encompassing economic transformation, ecological degradation, and the marginalization of the socio-cultural fabric that intertwines humans and the coastal environment.

Cognition and Interaction: From the Perspective of Daily Therapeutic Landscape of the Coastal Zone

“…The high intensity of coastal land development and dense population concentration, coupled with investments from coastal cities and foreign countries, have intensified maritime economic activities. These intensive marine utilization activities have led to significant social and environmental changes, increased resource and environmental pressures, coastal pollution, and a decline in ecosystem health, resulting in escalating potential environmental risks [50][51][52][53]. Xiamen City, as early as 1994, became a pioneer in coastal management in China and a pilot city for the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) organization [54].…”

“…Xiamen City, as early as 1994, became a pioneer in coastal management in China and a pilot city for the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) organization [54]. Therefore, coastal governance in Xiamen bears the responsibility of sustainable development of marine resources and has received strong political support [52]. The development goals have been oriented towards a tourism city.…”