Objective To study the dynamic change of mangrove wetland in Dongzhai port, Hainan Province, and provide references for mangrove wetland protection, coastal zone restoration, converting the pond for wetland and other major ecological measures.

Method The dynamic change characteristics of mangrove wetland in Dongzhai port were described from two aspects of landscape pattern and land use, and the dynamic change of mangrove wetland was studied by combining land use/cover change (LUCC) and landscape ecological index.

Result (1) From the perspective of land use, from 1988 to 2016, the proportion of aquaculture area and construction land in Dongzhai port increased significantly, from 1.6% and 1.86% of the total area to 11.89% and 9.39% respectively. The area of woodland and arable land decreased from 17.61% and 38.89% to 11.83% and 27.06% respectively. (2) From the perspective of landscape, the high stability landscape indexes such as the increase of the density and the number of patch, the decrease of the mean patch area, the area-weighted mean shape fragmentation index, indicated that the degree of landscape fragmentation increased gradually in the study area of Dongzhai port. (3) The landscape fragmentation index and some correlation analysis about the changes of each landscape area showed the reduction of arable land. While the increase of construction land and aquaculture area surface area directly aggravated the degree of landscape fragmentation. (4) Mangroves, as the most important element of mangrove wetland, its area was mainly affected by disasters and human factors. There was no obvious change in the whole mangroves area of the study area in Dongzhai port. The change of area was bound with other land types like arable land, aquaculture area and water area.

Conclusion In the past 30 years, the change of land use in Dongzhai port was mainly reflected in the increase of aquaculture area and construction land, and the reduction of woodland and arable land. The decline of the arable land and the increase of construction land and aquaculture area directly aggravated the degree of landscape fragmentation. At the same time, conservation efforts are focused on mangrove forests.