Research on changes of land use in natural reserves is a critical issue and discussion of land use policies relevant to them is needed for their preservation in face of pressures of local socio-economic development. This study examined Tianjin Palaeocoast and Wetland National Natural Reserve (TJPW) and reviewed its development processes, status of adjustments and evolutionary mechanisms. Land use/cover change (LUCC), driving forces, adjustment schemes, and land use policy changes were also investigated. Land use changes were studied by supervised classification of Landsat TM remote sensing images of 1988, 1998, and 2008, respectively. Local economic development is the main driving force of LUCC. As such, it is critical to lay out a scientific, integrated development plan for adjustment that pays more attention to changes in natural reserve land properties and establishes ecological protection networks. In addition, the ecological integrity of natural reserves needs to be preserved and sustained instead of randomly modifying their boundaries to meet the demand of key infrastructure projects. Therefore, the results described in the study provides a detailed reference model that can lead to adopt boundary adjustment strategy to balance coastal wetland protection and a sustainable development of resource’s management. ► The protection effects of TJPW are vague. ► Boundary adjustment is needed for rationalizing the functional zones. ► Nature reserve should hold land rights and do ecological compensation. ► The protection effects of TJPW are vague. ► Boundary adjustment is needed for rationalizing the functional zones. ► Nature reserve should hold land rights and do ecological compensation.