Reaching Across the Water: International Cooperation Promoting Sustainable River Basin Governance in China

By Jennifer L. Turner and Kenji Otsuka, the China Environment Forum, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , May 2006

China is facing numerous water crises—lakes and rivers contaminated with toxic pollutants from unregulated industries and untreated urban wastewater; severe water shortages stemming from over pumping of ground and surface water; and flood disasters caused by deforestation and destruction of wetlands. Water degradation and scarcity in China contribute to population movements, health risks, and food security problems. Water problems ultimately have the potential to affect China’s social, economic, and political stability.

At the core of China’s water challenges is the need to protect the country’s river ecosystems. The need to mitigate the threats to China’s rivers has catalyzed domestic and international efforts to strengthen laws, policies, and projects to promote integrated river basin management (IRBM) and more holistic pollution prevention strategies.

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