China has reported significant advancements in safeguarding the water ecology of its key river basins, with national water quality continuing its upward trend in the first half of 2023. This progress reflects China’s ongoing commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.
During a press conference on Friday, Huang Xiaozeng, an official from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), revealed that an impressive 89.4 percent of the nation’s surface water bodies have been classified as having excellent water quality this year. This figure represents a 1.5 percentage point increase from last year and exceeds the target set in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) by 4.4 percentage points.
“Our efforts are yielding tangible results,” Huang stated. “The continuous improvement in water quality demonstrates the effectiveness of our ecological protection measures.”
The Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia, serves as a prime example of this progress. Huang reported that 98.5 percent of monitoring sites along the Yangtze River Basin achieved excellent water quality in 2023, marking a 0.4 percentage point rise from the previous year. This improvement has led to a resurgence of biodiversity within the river’s ecosystem.
Notably, the number of indigenous fish species documented in the Yangtze River Basin has increased to 227, adding 34 species since 2022. Additionally, the number of nationally protected aquatic wildlife species in the basin rose to 14 in 2023, up by three from the previous year. These figures highlight the positive impact of China’s environmental initiatives on its natural habitats.
In June of last year, the MEE collaborated with relevant departments to issue detailed assessment criteria for water ecology in the Yangtze River Basin. The first evaluation under these new criteria is scheduled for 2025. “The Yangtze River Basin serves as a pilot for our nationwide efforts,” Huang explained. “We aim to refine our water ecology monitoring and evaluation methods across the country, establish comprehensive standards, and support the evaluation system for building a beautiful China.”
China’s proactive approach to environmental protection is an integral part of its broader strategy to foster sustainable development and ecological civilization. The substantial progress in water ecology protection not only benefits the country’s natural resources but also contributes to global environmental conservation efforts.
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China reports significant progress on water ecology protection
cgtn.com
