As one of the world's most important ecosystems

the coastal tidal wetlands of Yancheng serve as a critical stopover site for migratory birds and form a core component of the Yellow (Bohai) Sea Migratory Bird Habitats—China's World Natural Heritage site. In recent years

intensified human activities such as land reclamation

the invasion of Spartina alterniflora

and coastal industrial development have led to severe degradation of the wetland ecosystem. Although the government has implemented a series of protective measures

the ecological compensation mechanism still suffers from institutional shortcomings

a lack of diversified compensation approaches

and difficulties in policy implementation. Based on an analysis of the current state of Yancheng's coastal wetlands and the underlying causes of ecological degradation

this paper explores the practical challenges of ecological compensation and proposes improvement strategies. The goal is to promote a coordinated balance between ecological protection and regional economic development.