Wetlands in Beijing have been shrinking and becoming more fragmented due to human activities. Using satellite images and computer models, researchers found that the area of wetlands in Beijing decreased by half from 1996 to 2005. The wetland patches are becoming more irregular in shape. The future trend suggests that natural rivers will make up a small portion of wetlands, while artificial water bodies will dominate. These findings can help guide the sustainable management of wetlands in Beijing.