New guidelines for protection and governance of rivers unveiled

China has unveiled new guidelines for the enhanced protection and governance of rivers, emphasizing the significance of comprehensive management of water-related disasters, water resources, water ecology and the water environment.

The country is set to achieve significant improvements in flood control capabilities by 2035, with a modernized river basin flood control and disaster reduction system basically taking shape, according to the guidelines recently issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

The guidelines stress the significance of maintaining river tranquility by proposing a new flood control and disaster reduction pattern. This approach prioritizes the synergy between river basins and regions, as well as the fusion of engineering and nonengineering solutions. It is essential to coordinate the construction of flood control systems for main and tributary rivers, improve resilience to climate change, and strengthen preparedness for extreme rainstorms and floods.

Efforts should be made to optimize a comprehensive flood control engineering system that includes reservoirs, river channels, embankments and flood detention areas. Additionally, emphasis should be placed on improving weather forecasting, enhancing the dissemination of early warning information and strengthening disaster response capabilities.

Systematic assessments of flood risk areas should be conducted to guide various activities in order to strengthen disaster risk prevention and control. These activities include relocating people and industries to low-risk areas, exiting unstable arable lands, strengthening infrastructure facilities, and introducing a flood insurance system in high-risk areas.

Upholding the principle of rigid water resource constraint, the guidelines put forward a series of measures to enhance the conservation and intensive utilization of water resources. These measures include promoting efficient agricultural irrigation, implementing recycling of industrial water, and encouraging the reuse of unconventional water sources.

Additionally, water resources in river basins should be allocated scientifically, the water supply potential of existing water storage projects should be fully utilized, and national strategic reserve systems and groundwater reserve systems should be established to ensure water resource security, according to the guidelines.

The guidelines underscore that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and propose to implement region-specific, differentiated and precisely controlled ecological management requirements. Specifically, management in the northern region should prioritize addressing river cutoffs and shrinking lakes, while in the southern region, the focus should be on ensuring rivers flow clearly and smoothly.

The guidelines also detail measures to enhance the protection of drinking water sources, promote water culture preservation, and optimize river management mechanisms.

In addition to the water resources, and the development and reform departments, the guidelines emphasize the need for coordinated efforts in river protection and management from multiple authorities, including the financial, natural resources, ecology and environment, and transport departments. The guidelines also encourage public participation and social supervision in these efforts.