Project Scope and Relationship to China's Agenda 21

This project seeks to develop and implement a comprehensive, large-scale soil erosion prevention and control programme in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The project was developed in accordance with programme area 16A of China's Agenda 21 - Prevention and Control of Soil Erosion - and will contribute to sustainable agriculture and rural development, disaster mitigation and poverty alleviation (Chapters 8, 13 and 17).

1. Background

Soil erosion is a serious problem in China, occurring on a much larger scale than in other developing countries. Since the late 1940s, the eroded area has increased by 38 percent, and the area subject to erosion now includes nearly 18 million square kilometres, one-sixth of China's total land area. An additional 5 billion tons of topsoil is lost every year from the use of marginal lands for farming, deforestation, and intensive agriculture.

This soil erosion has caused serious land degradation, loss of agricultural productivity and even exposure of the bedrock in some mountainous areas. It has also led to increased siltation of rivers and lakes and a greater frequency of floods, droughts, and landslides, posing tremendous costs in human lives and economic losses. As a result, over three-quarters of the poorest counties in China lie in areas suffering from severe soil erosion.

China has had a long history of soil erosion control and reclamation, yet the area of soil brought under control has been far exceeded by the size of newly-eroded areas. In the Yangtze River valley, the newly-eroded areas are three times larger than the areas brought under control. A comprehensive strategy must be implemented that stresses prevention as well as control. China promulgated the Law on Water and Soil Conservation in 1991 to address this issue, but lack of funds has seriously constrained its implementation and enforcement.

This project seeks to develop and implement a comprehensive soil erosion prevention and control program in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Nearly one-third of the population of this mountainous region suffers from poverty, struggling to survive on severely degraded land. Through a series of demonstration projects based on small watersheds, as well as a comprehensive programme of conservation, management, enforcement, monitoring, and training. This project seeks to alleviate poverty, to improve agricultural production and to restore the ecological balance of the region. Moreover, the reduction of soil erosion in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River will decrease siltation and lessen the potential for natural disasters throughout the entire Yangtze River.

2. Objectives

• Long-term Objectives
  • To develop and implement a comprehensive, large-scale soil erosion prevention and control programme in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River; to use the results of this programme as a model for prevention and control of soil erosion in other poor mountainous areas in China.

• Immediate Objectives
  • To establish and strengthen the capacity of 300 county-level centres, 10 provincial centres and one national centre for the comprehensive management, monitoring, prevention and control of soil erosion in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
  • To carry out 10 soil erosion demonstration projects using small watersheds as the units of prevention and control.
  • To conduct research on new policies and technologies measures for the prevention and control of soil erosion, including the use of household contracts, land leasing, and other market economy measures.

These activities will be organized by a leading group formed by the Ministry of Water Resources, the Yangtze River Water Conservancy Committee, and the Soil and Water Conservancy Bureau in 10 provinces, including Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Henan. The Yangtze River Water Conservancy Committee is responsible for overall planning, supervision, and management. The soil and water conservancy bureau at the province, prefecture, and county levels in 10 provinces are responsible for implementation and technical services. The project duration will be seven years.

• 3.1 Establish and strengthen the capacity of 300 county-level centres, 10 provincial centres, and one national centre for the comprehensive management, monitoring, prevention and control of soil erosion in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
  • Establish soil erosion prevention and control centres in 106 counties with severe soil erosion, for a total area of 267,000 km2. In each centre, emphasize protection of existing forests, grasslands, and cultivated lands; use of management agreements such as collective and household contracts; develop and enforce of regulations; and improve management of secondary forests.
  • Set up demonstration areas for soil erosion prevention and control in 194 counties in the upper and middle reaches of the River. In each area, emphasize management, conservation, and maintenance of existing control areas; promote education concerning applicable regulations; and prevent and monitor of further soil erosion caused by quarrying, mining, and capital construction.

• 3.2 Carry out 10 demonstration projects for prevention and control of soil erosion in the form of small watersheds.
  • Set up soil erosion prevention and control demonstration projects in four regions, for a total area of 5000 km2.
  • Use small watersheds as the unit of prevention and control, modify sloping and cultivated lands, utilize slope water systems and ditch control works; cultivate various tree species for economic and/or conservation purposes; and support the development of aquaculture and food processing industries.

• 3.3 Conduct research on new policies and technologies for the prevention and control of soil erosion, including the use of household contracts, land leasing, and other market-based mechanisms.
  • Conduct research on the formulation of unified coordinated development plans to prevent further erosion, including rational land use planning; coordinated development of agriculture, industry, transportation and trade; and population growth plans.
  • Conduct scientific research to determine the causes of soil erosion in small watersheds, patterns of sediment transport, and the effects of soil conservation on sedimentation and flood control.
  • Conduct research on comprehensive soil erosion prevention and control measures for small watersheds, including field experimentation.
  • Conduct research on the prevention and control of landslides and debris in the upper reaches of the reaches of the River.
  • Conduct research on economic and social policies and incentives to encourage the management and prevention of soil erosion, including the use of household contracts, collective contracts, land leasing, rewards and penalties.

• 3.4 Build capacity for recast and control of soil erosion.
  • Establish information system and management system for soil erosion prevention and control and strengthen the existing communication network.
  • Establish a soil conservation training centre, develop a long-term training program and train managers and technical personnel at various levels.
  • Participate in the research programs on disaster mitigation at the UN and other international bodies.

• 4.1 Chinese Inputs
  • Project management
  • Soil erosion prevention and monitoring system
  • Materials, tools and seedlings for demonstration projects
  • Capital construction
  • Construction labour

• 4.2 International Cooperation
  • Information system
  • Communication system
  • Monitoring system instruments and equipment
  • Landslide and mud-rock warning system
  • Technology transfer
  • Personnel training and international cooperation

5. Benefits

This project will bring substantial economic and environmental benefits to the residents of the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, including improved agricultural production, restoration of ecological balance, poverty alleviation and reduction in the frequency of natural disasters. The downstream residents in the lower reaches of the River will also benefit from a reduction in siltation and the frequency of flooding and natural disasters. Reducing the potential for siltation and flooding will also benefit the development of the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, particularly the construction of the Three Gorges project.