Equitable utilisation and effective protection of sharing transboundary water resources: international rivers of western China

Western China includes 12 provincial divisions (the 7 provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai and; 5 autonomous regions of Tibet, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Guangxi; and one city of Chongqing), which comprise 71.4% of the national land area, 28.5% of the national population and produce 17.5% of the national GDP in China. There are 17 countries that have riparian relationships with western China, most of which are water-short countries. All are listed by UN ESCAP as countries with potential water crisis. The co-operative development and coordinated management of international rivers in western China is an important step toward the implementation of the national Great Western Development program. Taking into account of the national strategy and object hierarchy, as well as the development demand of the western region, it is necessary to pursue the multi-disciplinary study of the equitable allocation, utilisation, and eco-environment protection of transboundary water resources in the region. Such efforts will undoubtedly provide scientific evidence and support for the decision-making of the environmental protection and ecological construction and management in the western regions, the enforcement of the sub-regional economic co-operation, mitigation of trans-boundary conflicts, and enhancing bio-diversity conservation.

Investigation on Sinipercine Fishes in the National Aquatic Germplasm Resources Protection Area in Jinjiang River of China

[Objective]The paper was to provide a scientific basis for protection and utilization of sinipercine fish resources in Jinjiang River,the national resources protection area. [Method]A total of 171 specimens of sinipercine were collected from Jinjiang River and its branches,identified and statistically counted.[Result]There were three species of wild sinipercine,including Siniperca scherzeri,Coreoperca whiteheadi and Siniperca kneri,with occurrence frequencies of100%,66. 7% and 50%,respectively. They were common species in the river,and S. scherzeri was dominant. The total allowable catch(TAC) of the three species was not big,and the individuals captured were generally small,and with rare mature individuals. [Conclusion]The resources of sinipercine had a preliminary recovery in the region after the foundation of the national resources protection area for aquatic resources in Jinjiang River in 2009.

Countermeasures for the Protection and Sustainable Development of Forestry Resources

Firstly,the problems of the protection and sustainable development of forestry resources were analyzed,such as lack of overall planning for the protection of forestry resources,insufficient investment in the protection of forestry resources,etc.Afterwards,the corresponding countermeasures were proposed,such as making overall planning for sustainable forestry development,increasing the investment in the protection of forestry resources,improving the forestry management system,etc.

Protection Planning for Rural Centralized Drinking Water Source Areas in Chongqing

Protection planning is made for rural centralized drinking water source areas according to current situations of rural drinking water and existing problems of centralized drinking water source areas in Chongqing,and in combination with survey,analysis and evaluation of urban-rural drinking water source areas in whole city.There are engineering measures and non-engineering measures,to guarantee drinking water security of rural residents,improve rural ecological environment,realize sustainable use of water resource,and promote sustainable development of society.Engineering measures include conservation and protection of water resource,ecological restoration,isolation,and comprehensive control of pointsource and area-source pollution.Non-engineering measures include construction of monitoring system for drinking water source area,construction of security information system for rural centralized drinking water source area,and construction of emergency mechanism for water pollution accidents in rural water source areas.

Environmental issues and countermeasures in exploiting water resources of rivers

Based on affirming the tremendous benefits that water resources of rivers can provide in their exploitation, main environmental problems and their countermeasures have been proposed and analyzed in this paper. It is argued that multiple measures should be applied to solving those problems by simultaneously carrying out engineering measures, scientific research and also programs to cultivate the society’s awareness, aimed at a sustainable development strategy for exploiting water resources.

Protecting Land and Resources

LAND is a resource vital to life and production. China Today recently visited Wang Dacao, head of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Land and Resources. We asked him how the province protects and utilizes its land and resources for the purposes of sustainable development and benefit of later generations.Rich ResourcesThe land and sea within the boundaries of Liaoning Province, northeastern

PROTECTING THE RESOURCES OF THE TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS

In order to finish the cataloging work of buttercup species in the family of Renunculaceae for the compilation of the Flora Yunnanensis, I went to the CAS Institute of Botany in Kunming City,capital of Yunnan Province in May 1995 to look up phyto-taxonomic specimens. At the invitation of the Institute’s director Prof. Xu Zhaifu, when the work was coming to an end, I toured the well-known botanic garden of the Institute in the township of Menglu, which nests in the picturesque district of Xishuang Banna at the southernmost tip of the subtropical territory of Yunnan. In the winter of 1958,I had visited the ever-verdant vicinity to collect floral materials. After almost 37 years, I revisited the botanic garden founded by celebrated

Nutritional and medicinal characteristics of Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) for applications in healthcare industry by artificial cultivation: A review

Andrias davidianus,i.e.Chinese giant salamander(CGS),is one of the largest and oldest amphibians existing in the world and is also one of the valuable biological resources of China.Wild CGS has been threatened with extinction in the past decades due to over capturing,deterioration of natural environment,the slow breeding and growth of the wild species in nature.However,in the past twenty years,with the breakthrough and progress of artificial breeding technology by artificial insemination,the number of artificially cultivated CGS has increased rapidly.Artificially cultivated CGS can either be released to the CGS living environment to increase the population in nature or legally applied in food and medicinal industry as a feedstock due to the unique nutritional and medicinal values of CGS as recorded historically.In this review,the nutritional components,bioactive components and medicinal activities of the artificially cultivated CGS will be summarized.The mucus,skin,meat and bone of CGS contain many different bioactive substances thereby having various medicinal activities including anti-aging,anti-fatigue,anti-tumor,therapy of burn and anti-infection and other physiological functions.This paper will further discuss the potential applications of the artificially cultivated CGS in healthcare industry and prospects of future technological development.

Concurrent mining and reclamation for underground coal mining subsidence impacts in China

Large scale underground mining of coal resources in China using longwall mining has resulted in ecological and environment problems, including surface subsidence that is considered serious due to competing interests of prime agricultural lands, food security, and regional economic development. The subsided lands must be rehabilitated soon after mining to be agriculturally productive to minimize loss of farmland. Similarly, precious water resources must also be managed during and after mining to protect this natural resource. Toward these goals, the concept of ＂Concurrent mining and subsidence reclamation （CMR）＂ was proposed by Professor Hu of the China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing （CUMTB）. Over the last two decades CMR concepts have evolved and successfully applied in the field in different parts of China. This innovative technology has increased available farmland during the mining process, and provided better land protection and food security in mining areas even with high groundwater table. The technology has been used in 5 of the 14 large coal bases in China. This paper describes the technology concepts, design and guiding principles for planning with two case studies from different regions to enhance its application both in China and in other countries.

Implementing a Rainwater Sustainable Control in SaheI-Feedback from ＂Niayes＂ Zone of Dakar

Dakar area landscape is mainly characterized by the existence of the ＂niaye＂-or agricultural depressions located in the sand dunes system. In these depressions, the top-table of quaternary sand groundwater reaches or overflows the soil surface. Because of a recent groundwater level drop, some of the niayes have become runoff-gathering sites. This water ensures various economical, environmental and social services, i.e. urban agriculture, drinking water supply of Dakar and formation of ecosystems supporting biodiversity. Given that rainwater infiltration is the only natural ＂input＂, conception and implemention of rainwater management PPP （Politics, Plan and Program） must necessarily take into account this interrelationl Nowadays, two acute problems are observed in the Dakar area. On the one hand, the niayes are threatened by a hydrological drying process due to the insufficiency of rainwater refill. On the other hand, the dramatic social pressure on the environment has led to the urbanization of these bottom-lands. Furthermore, because of the pluviometry decrease, a worsening of the nuisances （floods and malaria） related to surface waters occurs. Consequently, an appropriate runoff management should integrate both the ＂risk＂ and ＂resource＂ dimensions, thus allowing the protection of natural resources and a secure living environment. According to the limits of＂classicai＂ solutions, this paper provides approach elements for building a sustainability plan focusing on emergent concerns, which would control rainwater in urbanized zones.

The Advancement of Low-Carbon Ecological Civili zation in the View of Cultural Ecological System——A Case Study of Ningxia Ningdong Energy-Chemical Base

The status quo of Ningxia Ningdong Energy-Chemical Base was introduced first, and the ecological civilization and low-carbon economy of Ningxia Ningdong Energy-Chemical Base were analyzed. Problems in the exploitation of resources in Ningxia Ningdong Energy-Chemical Base, and major factors which restrain the development, were discussed. Countermeasures were put forward at last.

Protect the Environment and Speed up the Sustainable Development of Chinese Agriculture

Strengthening the environmental protection, deepening rural reform, increasing agricultural input, and promoting a more stable and higher-speed growth of peasants＇ income, all of these are playing a very important role in the sustainable development of agriculture. The environment problems are not only economic problems, but also important political problems. And they constitute an urgent and arduous task that we meet, and need a long time to be conquered. Under the present new historical circumstances, we should establish a scientific development philosophy, strengthen the environment protection, and build up a harmonious society in which urban and rural areas are progressing coordinately.