Abstract:

The Three Gorges Reservoir region is one of the main soil loss regions in China with an area of soil erosion reaching 28000 km². It is also one of the four regions of soil and water conservation in the upper reaches of Yangtze River. The national key projects for soil and water conservation in upstream Yangtze River were implemented since 1989. After two decades of continuous regulation, some ecological and socio-economic benefits have been achieved. In this paper we summarize the effectiveness of the key projects based on investigation of typical counties including Zigui and Yiling of Hubei province and Yunyang of Chongqing city. The deterioration of soil and water loss in the reservoir area has been improved through the comprehensive harnessing. The area of soil and water loss reduced by 28% from 1985 to 2007. Through scale management, the advantages of resources in mountain area were turned into economic advantages by planting economic fruit trees including tea and citrus. The production of the economic fruit industry and the economic income of people in the area have been increased, and the contradiction between people and land has been alleviated. Finally, environment capacity of the reservoir area increased. The national key projects for soil and water conservation in Yangtze river basin played positive role in reducing sediment and non-point source pollution.

Key words: Three Gorges Reservoir region, national key projects for soil and water conservation in Yangtze river basin, effectiveness, soil and water loss, soil and water conservation