The World Bank has offered a loan of up to US$100 million to
China to help bar soil erosion in the country's central and
southwestern provinces.
The Yangtze/Pearl River Watershed Rehabilitation Project will
soon get underway in the provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Hubei and Chongqing Municipality, according to Xu
Yanjie, an official with the Water Resources Department of
Guizhou.
The project aims to protect environment and improve the
livelihoods of people in poor areas of the Yangtze and Pearl River
Basins where the watersheds are in serious trouble after years of
degradation.
The project, which will be expected to promote an integrated
model of sustainable rural development, will last six years and be
implemented in 38 cities and counties of the four provinces and
municipalities, Xu said.
These regions have been suffering serious soil erosion caused by
local natural conditions and human activity and report soil erosion
to more than 47.5 percent of the total land area.
Due to deterioration of ecological environment and natural
adversities, people in 22 counties out of the 38 counties selected
for the program suffer from poverty, Xu said.
Funds from the project will be used to build hillside terraces,
protect mountain slopes, plant more trees and orchards, building
water treatment facilities, promote the use of biogas all in an
effort to encourage soil and water conservation. The project will
also have an educational component that will increase environmental
awareness among local farmers and the general public.
(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2006)