China's mega water diversion project marks 10 years, alleviating regional water imbalance

Since its launch 10 years ago, the first phase of the eastern and central routes of China's South-North Water Diversion Project have diverted 76.5 billion cubic meters of water, providing critical relief to the country's drought-prone northern regions.

The project, the largest of its kind in the world, connects major river basins in China, including the Yangtze, Huai, Yellow and Hai rivers, creating a national water grid that optimizes resource allocation.

In Beijing, two out of every three glasses of water a resident drinks or uses come from over a thousand kilometers away. This is because of a massive water diversion project that has not only significantly alleviated the water shortage in the capital city, but also greatly improved its water supply security. And Beijing is not the only city reaping the benefits of this ambitious project.

"The project has effectively improved the allocation of water resources. For instance, in Beijing, groundwater reliance has been significantly reduced due to an increased supply of surface water from the South. Additionally, water quality has also improved, with many regions now enjoying class one and two water, [which is] suitable for drinking and ecosystem health," Wang Yisen, former chief engineer of the project, said recently.

Wang said that the implementation of three guiding principles has ensured the project's sustainability: prioritizing water-saving and pollution control, minimizing the ecological impact, and aligning water transfer plans with social and economic development.

Advanced planning and adaptive management strategies mitigate risks, such as potential downstream impacts on the Yangtze River.

"From the beginning, ecological protection has been a top priority. Measures like pollution control along transfer routes and detailed hydrological studies have ensured minimal environmental disruption. For example, concerns about schistosomiasis transmission were thoroughly addressed, confirming the parasite cannot survive in northern climates," he said.

The South-North Water Diversion Project stands as a testament to China's commitment to balancing development with environmental stewardship.

As the project moves into its next phase, with the western route still in the planning stages, the engineer says challenges posed by global climate change and lessons learned from past experiences will fully be taken into consideration, with the goal of strengthening water security in dry regions across the country.

China's mega water diversion project marks 10 years, alleviating regional water imbalance

China has become the largest contributor to global greening and an international model for desertification prevention and control since signing the UN Convention to Combat Desertification 30 years ago.

Desertification has become one of the most severe environmental challenges facing humanity, as it leads to more sand and dust storms, jeopardizes food security, displaces communities and fuels conflicts.

Delegates from around the world are convening for the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Dec. 2-13 to seek agreements and accelerate joint actions to support sustainable land management and climate resilience.

During the COP16, China has set up the "China Pavilion" to share its successful desertification control efforts and experiences, notably through initiatives such as the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program. The exhibition highlights China's enduring and painstaking efforts in combating desertification, drawing attention and admiration from the international community.

China has one of the world's largest affected areas, particularly in the northwestern, northern and northeastern regions that feature vast dryland and desert.

Through initiatives like the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, China has added 32 million hectares to afforestation areas, restored 85.3 million hectares of degraded grassland, and rehabilitated 33.3 million hectares of desertified land since 1978.

Noteworthy achievements include the creation of the world's largest man-made forest in Saihanba in northern China's Hebei Province, the completion of the world's largest ecological restoration project in Maowusu in northwestern China's Shaanxi Province, and the transformation of the Kubuqi Desert in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region into a thriving green landscape.

Over the past 30 years, China's desertification control efforts have garnered global acclaim, particularly through the recent intensification of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, which has significantly increased forest coverage in the project area from just over 5 percent in the 1970s to 13.84 percent now.

As of the end of 2023, China's forest coverage rate had exceeded 25 percent, with a forest stock surpassing 20 billion cubic meters and the largest artificial forest area globally, further consolidating China's position as the world's leader in greening efforts.

China leads global greening efforts, showcasing desertification control success at UN conference