Editor:
A "Pre-approval Announcement on the Pre-approval and Site Selection of the Poyang Lake Water Conservancy Project Construction Project" put the Poyang Lake Water Conservancy Project (sluice construction) project on the agenda again, triggering intense discussions from all walks of life. The CBCGDF Research Office pays special attention to this, and actively invited a number of experts, scholars, stakeholders, and the public in the fields of ecology, biodiversity conservation, wetlands, water conservancy, etc., to participate in the online and offline discussion on the Poyang Lake Water Conservancy Project. After that, based on the opinions of all parties gathered at the discussion meeting, a letter was sent to relevant departments to request that the relevant approval of the project be suspended. Recently, feedback from relevant departments was received saying that there are still disputes on the Poyang Lake project and it will not be approved, further investigations are required.
So, what kind of problem is Poyang Lake facing? How to solve the current ecological problems? What scientific principles should be followed for water resources and ecological protection in the entire Yangtze River basin? A few days ago, Academician Lu Yaoru answered the above three questions in an interview with the QiangGuo Forum. The editor believes that Academician Lu's answer will bring enlightenment to how to balance the relationship between Poyang Lake's ecological environment protection and is development and utilization.
Editor/Huizi, Apple Reviewer/Xiangshu
Academician Lu Yaoru: Ecological Environment Protection of Poyang Lake from the perspective of the Entire Yangtze River Basin
People's Daily (Quyuan), Beijing, February 2nd.
Recently, the Poyang Lake Ecological Protection and Water Conservancy Project Construction Seminar was held, focusing on the rationality of the Poyang Lake gate construction project. Lu Yaoru, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a researcher of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, said in an interview for People's Daily that the Poyang Lake problem must be solved by considering factors such as flood control, water resource scheduling, sewage treatment, and the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Rivers, lakes and various organisms, with reference to changes in the time dimension, analyze and judge from the entire Yangtze River basin.
Lu Yaoru, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a researcher of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences
QiangGuo Forum: What are the problems faced by Poyang Lake?
Lu Yaoru: Poyang Lake is an important seasonal lake in the Yangtze River Basin. It has high-water lake facies and low-water river facies. It has a unique landscape. The water level change of Poyang Lake is dually affected by the inflow of water from five rivers (Ganjiang, Fuhe, Xinjiang, Raohe, and Xiuhe) and the Yangtze River. During the flood season, the water level rises, the lake floods the floodplain, the lake surface is wide, the blue waves are rippling, and the vastness; in the dry season, the water level drops, the lake sinks, the lake beach is exposed, the lake surface becomes smaller, and it is winding, just like a river. The lake area and volume of flood and low water vary greatly.
For a long time, Dongting Lake, Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River have been interdependent and interacted with each other, which has evolved into an extremely complicated system. They are also faced with a low water problem and a shortage of water resources. This low water problem has historical reasons, it is also impacted by human activities. Human factors involves various water conservancy projects and irrigation, coupled with the sand mining in the lake area, these all affected the ecological environment of Poyang Lake.
QiangGuo Forum: How do you think the ecological problems can be solved?
Lu Yaoru: To solve the problems, we must think comprehensively. First, Poyang Lake involves the function of flood discharge and flood control of the Yangtze River. The construction of the gate in Poyang Lake affected the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. If we only consider that Poyang Lake has very little water during the dry season, and store water from September to April of the following year, then how should the flood peak from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River be adjusted during this period? Second, the rivers, lakes and seas must all be taken into consideration. The lakes and rivers of the Yangtze River are facing the problem of insufficient water resources, which guarantees the water volume of Poyang Lake. What about other lakes and even the Yangtze River? Poyang Lake is not isolated, it must be considered together with the Yangtze River, especially the lower reaches. Thirdly, the problem of sea water intrusion should also be considered. Sea levels are now rising continuously. If the water level of the Yangtze River drops, it may lead to sea water ingress. Fourth, the guarantee of water quality. If a gate is built to ensure the water volume of Poyang Lake, another reservoir may be formed. The water quality of Poyang Lake needs to be taken into consideration.
The protection of biodiversity and the protection of the ecological and geological environment have the same goals. Large-scale project construction should be reasonable and be based on the protection of the ecological and geological environment. The pros and cons must be well-understood. In that way, we will be able to coexists with nature in harmony.
Therefore, to solve the Poyang Lake problems, factors such as flood control, water resource scheduling, sewage treatment, and all aspects of upstream, midstream, and downstream must be considered. To solve the ecological problems of Poyang Lake, we should be comprehensive. We need to conduct "four-dimensional" management and research on it, that is, in addition to the three-dimensional space, for the rivers, lakes and various creatures here, we also need to add the fourth dimension—time, to the research and analysis.
QiangGuo Forum: What principles should be followed for water resources and ecological protection in the entire Yangtze River basin?
Lu Yaoru: Regarding water resources, at least water from various sources must be considered. Rainfall, rivers, lake water, groundwater, and large reservoirs should be taken into consideration. If you are on the coast, sea water should be included. It is necessary to systematically and comprehensively consider these six types of water resources in order to seek more reasonable development and utilization. Today's Poyang Lake ecological problems should be looked at from the entire Yangtze River basin, especially in relation to the upper, middle and lower reaches.
The Yangtze River should not be developed extensively, and the ecological environment should be better protected. The protection of the ecological environment should be viewed from a scientific point of view. The ecological environment is constantly changing. Protection is not about keeping it as it is, but balancing the relationship with natural ecology on the basis of rational use.
At present, the water resources and ecological environment protection of the Yangtze River Basin must adhere to the principles of protection over development, restoration in the first place, overall greater than partial, and long-term greater than short-term. Only in this way can the green waters and green mountains become golden mountains and silver mountains.
Source: http://www.people.com.cn/n1/2021/0202/c32306-32020420.html
Translator/ Zhang Yue
Original Chinese article
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