The National Soil and Water Conservation Strategy of the People's Republic of China and the Reform of the 1991 Water and Soil Conservation Law

Abstract

A National Strategy for Soil and Water Conservation (hereafter NSSWC) was prepared for the People's Republic of China (hereafter China) in 2000-2002 with the assistance of an international team of specialists. The NSSWC advocates a holistic and integrated approach for soil and water conservation. The legislative goal of the Strategy is to reform and strengthen China's 1991 Water and Soil Conservation Law (hereafter W&SCL) within the overall environmental law and policy system of China. The NSSWC points out there is a wide range of environmental legislative tools in China relevant to soil and water conservation but there is substantial variation in their capability to manage land degradation. The W&SCL is primarily concerned with soil Erosion control and lacks the capacity to address the main ecological processes and impacts of land degradation. This paper outlines the approach used by China to derive a format for a new W&SCL. The investigation included research of: international laws related to soil and water conservation; Chinese legislation related to soil and water conservation activity; successful legislative experiences and systems used in other countries for soil and water conservation. Comprehensive recommendations are made for the revision of W&SCL.