大河的另一种文明

Rescuing Big Rivers Damaged in Industrial Civilization

每当身处大河河畔,编织于笔者心中的大河美景便被侵蚀一次:它们日益枯黄、残缺,甚至发出恶臭、形象丑陋。沿河的高堤不断向上下游延伸,拦河大坝越修越高耸、坚硬;夹河修建的道路不仅让渴望亲近水岸的人们望而却步,也阻挡了各种生命在水陆之间迁徙;大河支流被裁弯取直,自然的河流形态不复存在,污水排放问题严峻,河滩森林及湿地不断减少。这些要归因于人们自私的欲望和对自然敬畏的缺失。庆幸的是,生态文明的到来可以唤醒人们对一切自然世界之美的认知;推动系统认识河流生态系统及其服务,系统规划并实施国土空间生态修复;建立和完善针对大河流域的法律法规体系;破除对灰色工业技术冥顽不化的迷信。除了构筑更高、更硬的钢筋水泥堤坝外,基于自然、富有韧性、更加可持续的生态防洪是保障大河水安全的更优途径,也是结束人水抗争、实现人水和谐的必由之路。

Large rivers with beautiful landscapes were dreamlands to the author. However, every time upon his arrival to riversides, he was shocked for the heavily polluted rivers that are dirty, messy, and smelling. Engineered dikes and dams made of concrete and steels for a greater height and hardness are built by cities along rivers. As more highways and railways built along rivers, vehicles run at a faster speed, scaring any life who wants to or has to access the water. Most of the tributaries are no longer free flow but end up as hard ditches and the water is polluted heavily. Forests and wetlands are being damaged and eroded. All of these are resulted from humans’ material desires and lack of respect for nature. Nevertheless, ecological civilization may encourage people to appreciate the beauty of nature and get a thorough understanding on river ecosystems and their services, accompanied by systematic planning and implementation of territorial ecological restoration. Moreover, laws and regulations on large river management should be put in place, and efforts should be made to break the worship of grey engineering approaches to flood control. It is expected that nature-based ecological approaches for a better resilience and sustainability in flood management can be more effective to ensure water safety.