A new UK-China partnership project will seek to develop more sustainable management policies for river basins in China: ‘Management Policy Framework for River Basin Sustainable Development’ was launched on 30th June under the UK-China Sustainable Development Dialogue.
Project team at the launch of UK-China River Basin Management project, Beijing
The project will draw upon UK expertise in integrated river basin management – developed through implementing the Water Framework Directive under EU legislation – to assess existing policies and their implementation in seven major Chinese river basins. The project will also develop guidelines on holistic planning and management, to balance ecological, economic and social development.
Expertise will be shared in both directions, with UK river managers learning about the various methods that China is developing to improve the efficiency with which it uses its scarce water resources, which may be applicable within the UK.
This new project demonstrates cross-governmental collaboration on both the UK and Chinese sides. On the UK side, UK water policy makers and managers from DEFRA, DFID and Environment Agency (England and Wales) will provide technical support; On the Chinese side, both National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Water Resources will co-lead, support and provide guidance to this project through its implementation. The project has been co-funded by DEFRA and DFID.
For more information on the project or the Sustainable Development Dialogue, please contact Su Zhang, Programme Coordinator for the UK-China Sustainable Development Dialogue, at s-zhang@dfid.gov.uk