1
Yangtze
Basin countries
People’s Republic of China
Summary of basin characteristics the surrounding lake basins, while during winter and
spring, when water levels are low, the lakes drain
he Yangtze – at 6,300km the third longest river back into the river. Fish and animals have adapted to
T in the world, with a basin covering 1.8 million
square kilometres – rises at an altitude of over
5,400m in the Tibet Plateau of western China. The
these changes and – under natural conditions – move
freely among areas connected by seasonal flooding.
river and the floodplain wetlands it feeds undergo Socio-economic importance
extreme seasonal changes. During the summer rainy Four hundred million people – one-third of China’s
season, the swollen waters of the Yangtze flood into population – live in the Yangtze basin. The alluvial
Managing Rivers Wisely
2 Yangtze
soil is so fertile that it permits two harvests per year. Within this overall policy, the central Yangtze
In the lower reaches of the river, the abundance of basin, including the two major lakes of Dongting and
flat land and water has facilitated the growth of Poyang, has been the focus of special attention
densely populated and heavily industrialized cities. because of its combined socio-economic significance
The central Yangtze is known as China’s ‘home of and ecological values.
rice and fish’. The lakes serve as natural buffers by storing
freshwater and reducing the extent and impact of
Biodiversity values flooding in areas occupied by people. However,
intensive land conversion – the building of dams,
China’s two biggest freshwater lakes – Dongting
dykes and polders – over 50 years has replaced wet-
Lake and Poyang Lake – are in the central Yangtze
lands with agriculture and urban settlements. This
basin and, together with the river’s vast floodplains,
has disrupted natural processes and fragmented habi-
provide habitat for some 300 species of bird, includ-
tats, endangering species such as Yangtze dolphin
ing internationally protected migratory waterbirds
Lipotes vexillifer, Yangtze alligator Alligator sinensis
such as cranes and storks. The lakes and adjacent
and Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis.
floodplains are home to two species of freshwater
In summary, the key issues to be addressed in
dolphins, more than 80 other mammal species, 200
reversing degradation of the central Yangtze basin
species of fish, more than 60 species of amphibians,
are:
and around 90 species of reptiles.
■ loss of natural wetland functions due to frag-
Priority issues for river basin
mentation and degradation
management
■ upstream erosion leading to accelerated down-
Since the 1950s, China’s population has more than stream siltation
doubled, with the main concentrations of people ■ lack of knowledge about wetland functions and
located along major river valleys. This has placed values among decision-makers
great pressure on the Yangtze floodplain ecosystem,
with conversion to farmland having greatly reduced ■ failure of development and land-use policies
the ability of the floodplain, rivers and lakes to buffer ■ institutional conflicts.
flood peaks. The loss of functional floodplains, com-
bined with deforestation in the watershed, has led to Role of WWF and its partners
increasingly serious flood events over the past sev-
eral decades. WWF’s Yangtze Programme aims to restore the
After the devastating floods of 1996 and 1998 (in Yangtze as a living river by securing effective man-
1998 alone, more than 4,000 people died and damage agement of a significant area of wetlands in the cen-
reached an estimated US$25 billion) the Chinese gov- tral Yangtze basin over a period of 25 years. It
ernment issued the so-called ‘32 character policy’ includes restoration and ecotourism activities at
aiming to reduce flood threats by working with nature Dongting Lake and integrated river basin manage-
rather than fighting it. Interventions include: ment of Poyang Lake basin, using a combination of
policy work and rehabilitation of ecological
■ a ban on logging in the upper catchments processes at demonstration sites. It is hoped that suc-
■ returning cultivated steep slopes to forest cesses at both Dongting and Poyang Lakes will catal-
yse the adoption of similar approaches in the wider
■ relocating settlements from flood-prone areas to central Yangtze basin.
higher ground safe from flooding WWF’s specific objectives are:
■ restoration of wetlands in the Yangtze floodplain
■ Restore Dongting Lake and its wetlands to their
■ reinforcing embankments
1950s extent (4,350km2) within ten years and
■ maintaining river courses, for example by manage the area sustainably, providing high-
dredging. quality habitats for wetland biodiversity and
Yangtze 3
livelihood opportunities for local people. ■ Public awareness of the tourism value of
■ Establish ecotourism in the Dongting Lake Dongting Lake was greatly enhanced through a
region as one means of supporting wetland nationwide birdwatching competition in 2002,
restoration and protection. organized by East Dongting Nature Reserve of
Hunan Province.
■ Demonstrate integrated coordination and man-
agement of Poyang Lake basin. ■ An ecotourism planning process in Hanshou
County, facilitated by WWF, attracted participa-
■ Restore the natural connections between tion from a wide range of stakeholders, includ-
Zhangdu Lake and the Yangtze River. ing local government, nature reserve managers,
■ Facilitate the establishment of an effective community leaders, fishermen and community-
Integrated River Basin Management Committee based tourism companies.
to restore a ‘Living Yangtze’.
IRBM demonstration projects in Poyang Lake
Key activities: basin
■ An integrated valuation study of Poyang Lake
Restoration of Dongting Lake
wetland, carried out by WWF working with part-
■ Working principally with the China Youth ners including the Mountain-River-Lake Office
Development Foundation, 150ha of Xiban- of Jiangxi Province and institutes of the Chinese
shanzhou polder (part of the drained Dongting Academy of Sciences and Beijing Normal
Lake wetlands) have been restored through Universities, used the Millennium Ecosystem
removal of the surrounding dyke. One hundred Assessment approach to place values on wetland
and fifty families are now protected from flood- services such as flood retention, purification,
ing and have increased their income by approxi- biodiversity, and recreation potential.
mately 40 per cent through applying diversified
■ Stakeholder surveys, analysis of the root causes
flood-adapted farming techniques. Farmers and
of biodiversity loss, and studies of possible eco-
officials in neighbouring areas are developing
logical compensation mechanisms are being car-
plans to implement the approach demonstrated
ried out in consultation with partners.
in Xibanshanzhou.
■ The ‘Mountain-River-Lake Development’ mas-
■ The government of Hunan Province has incor-
ter plan, established in 1992, was relaunched in
porated WWF’s input into its ‘4350 Programme’
2003 as a natural resource management strategy
to restore 1,700km2 of farmland to wetlands.
at the basin scale. WWF facilitated the process
■ WWF is actively lobbying and undertaking and worked with the Jiangxi Mountain-River-
fieldwork with Hunan Forestry Bureau to pro- Lake Office to draw up the IRBM master plan
mote establishment of 11 additional nature and associated action plan.
reserves (totalling 450km2) under the 4350
Programme. Demonstration project to relink Zhangdu Lake
with the Yangtze River
Ecotourism at Dongting Lake
This project consists of three elements: new models
■ Local fishermen, supported by WWF, have set up for alternative livelihoods; habitat rehabilitation and
an ecotourism company and are working closely establishment of wetland nature reserves; and effec-
with the West Dongting Nature Reserve to tive relinkage of lakes and rivers.
develop a co-management plan for the reserve.
■ A workshop on ecotourism organized jointly by ■ WWF is working to restore Zhangdu Lake as a
WWF and the Changde Tourism Department of natural wetland by opening the existing flood-
Hunan Province included stakeholders from gates that cut the lake off from the Yangtze
government, the business sector and the local River. The main partners include the Yangtze
community. Water Resource Protection Commission,
Managing Rivers Wisely
4 Yangtze
Yangtze Fishery Management Commission, By drawing together all these important stake-
State Forest Administration, Hubei Forestry holders, WWF aims to produce a common vision
Bureau, State Council Centre for Development for the Yangtze River basin and propose solu-
Research, and institutes of the Chinese Academy tions to the many challenging freshwater issues.
of Sciences. The aim is to restore 60km2 of wet- The recommendations will be submitted to the
land (the lake is currently 40km2) and to secure central government with the aim of securing
a commitment to restoring a much larger area. official support for an effective River Basin
WWF has set a target of 200km2 of wetland Management Committee to drive the long-term
restoration through relinking lakes, including restoration of a ‘Living Yangtze’.
Zhangdu, with the Yangtze.
■ Beyond the obvious benefits for biodiversity, Conservation method demonstrated
initial hydrological calculations show that the
additional flood retention area created as a result Showcasing sustainable wetland restoration –
of WWF’s work will be 80 million cubic metres restoring reclaimed agricultural land to floodplains to
– the equivalent of 30,000 Olympic-sized swim- reduce flood damage. This involves developing alter-
ming pools. native livelihoods for local people, in close collabo-
ration with all relevant stakeholders.
■ Based on the results of a scientific study, WWF
will establish the optimum method for introduc- ‘Magnification’ of the wetland restoration model
ing fry into the river/lake system to support the – using successful projects as models to influence
recovery of fish populations. WWF is also seek- provincial government policies, planning and expen-
ing to re-establish the important function of ditures for wetlands restoration.
flood control that the river/lake linkages have Showcasing on-the-ground IRBM practice –
historically provided, helping to reduce future demonstrating IRBM in practice in one of the sub-
flood damage. basins of the Yangtze River as a model for the entire
basin.
Policy work
Influencing policy – building and strengthening
To underpin its demonstration projects, WWF is influential governmental institutions to promote
working to influence national policies related to fresh IRBM at the state level, based on WWF’s field expe-
water that may help to restore the Yangtze River as a riences, with the aim of influencing state and provin-
whole. cial-level policies for establishing IRBM for the
whole Yangtze.
■ WWF has been instrumental in the recent estab-
Communicating successful approaches – WWF’s
lishment of an IRBM Task Force, under the
‘Wetland Ambassador’ campaign has been used as a
China Council of International Cooperation and
communications tool to spread the wetland restora-
Development (CCICED), and the Yangtze
tion concept to a wide audience in the Yangtze basin.
Forum. The Task Force will provide a stepping
stone to high-level government officials and is Establishing broad partnerships – this has led to
intended to address IRBM policy nationally, effective leverage of partners’ resources to promote
with members including six international river IRBM.
basin management experts and six national
experts, with more than 20 government officials Resources devoted
as observers. The Yangtze Forum will act as a
mechanism for a wide range of stakeholders WWF’s existing and projected investment (to 2007)
from all provinces of the Yangtze region to dis- is in excess of EUR8 million. Investment by partners
cuss and formulate a comprehensive plan; it will in China is 50-100 times this level.
also promote knowledge exchange and training.
Yangtze 5
Chronology Increasing numbers of national and international visi-
tors visit the demonstration site.
Late 1999 onwards
October 2001 onwards
● WWF, together with Hunan Forest Bureau, help build
● WWF works to establish the IRBM Task Force.
capacity for West Dongting Lake Natural Reserve. The
reserve is formally established in October 2001 and December 2002 onwards
listed as a Ramsar Site and recognized by WWF as a ● June: vision statement and conservation objectives for
‘Gift to the Earth’ in February 2002.
the Yangtze River and Lakes Ecoregion completed as
January 2000 onwards the basis for future IRBM and other conservation
● WWF and the China Youth Development Foundation efforts.
develop a showcase of wetland restoration and alterna-
tive livelihood projects, including flood-adapted farm- 2003
ing at Xiban-shanzhou Polder in Hunan Province. ● March: IRBM Task Force formally launched.
Lead WWF office contacts
Ms Liang Haitang Mr Yu Xiubo
Yangtze Focal Programme Leader Freshwater and Marine Programme Officer
WWF China, Changsha Office WWF China, Beijing Office
1505 Hunan Bestride Hotel 901 the Gateway, 10 Yabao Road
386 West Loadong Road Chaoyang District
Changsha 410007 Beijing 100020
Hunan Province P R China
P R China
T: +86 10 8563 6538 ext. 227
T: +86 731 511 0087 F: +86 10 85615731
F: +86 731 5110607 E: xbyu@[Link]
E: htliang@[Link]
Mr Derk Kuiper
Mr Wang Limin Manager, International Freshwater Programme
WWF-HSBC Yangtze Programme Leader WWF-Netherlands
WWF China, Wuhan Office Boulevard 12
Room 901 Changsheng Mansion, 126 Jianghan Road PO Box 7
Hankou, Wuhan 430014 3700 AA Zeist
Hubei Province The Netherlands
P R China
T: +31 30 693 7343
T: +86 27 8275 3845 F: +31 30 691 2064
F: +86 27 82753847 E: kuiper@[Link]
E: lmwang@[Link]
Managing Rivers Wisely
6 Yangtze
Lessons learnt
1. Establish and maintain a clear ‘niche’
Organizations like WWF can have an important role to play in supporting the development and
implementation of government policies that are favourable for river basin management. In the case of
the Yangtze it is considered that WWF should remain in the role of facilitator, partnership builder,
‘honest broker’, coordinator, and promoter. This maximizes potential to manage interaction with partners
(especially local government and local resource users) and to motivate their involvement.
2. Working at several levels simultaneously achieves more than focusing exclusively on a single
approach
Demonstration projects can be combined with communications and policy work to build a persuasive
case based on actual field experience.
3. Environmental issues must be linked with socio-economic concerns
This means seeking ‘win-win’ solutions and considering the interests and expectations of different
stakeholders. In the case of wetland restoration in the Yangtze basin, the national government’s interest
is to increase water retention capacity to mitigate flood losses. Similarly, local governments want to
reduce compensation payments for flood damage. Local communities, on the other hand, require
secure and stable livelihoods, whereas WWF’s main aim is to maintain and increase wetland
biodiversity.
4. Diversified partnerships enable WWF to leverage additional resources and help to build
‘ownership’ of projects among the partners – especially local communities and local
government
5. Different approaches are required with different stakeholder groups
For example, participatory planning has been used at the community level, but other means are needed
to influence stakeholders responsible for setting the policy framework and to ensure that field-level
experience is properly embedded in policy development processes.
6. A common platform (in this case, the IRBM Task Force) is needed where top-level government
officials and experts can work together to formulate policy recommendations
