Latest news with #ecological restoration
Sustainability Times
14-07-2025
- General
- Sustainability Times
'They Blew Up 300 Dams to Save a River': Massive Demolition Sparks the Largest Environmental Comeback Ever Attempted
IN A NUTSHELL 🌊 China dismantled 300 dams along the Chishui River to restore aquatic biodiversity. along the Chishui River to restore aquatic biodiversity. 🔄 This initiative marks one of the largest state-led efforts to reverse decades of environmental degradation. 🐟 Successful restoration has reopened migratory routes and supported the recovery of the Yangtze sturgeon . . 🌐 The project serves as a model for sustainable practices, balancing development with ecological preservation. The world is witnessing a monumental shift in how countries approach ecological conservation, with China taking a bold step towards revitalizing its natural habitats. In an unprecedented move, the nation has dismantled 300 dams along the Chishui River, a crucial tributary of the Yangtze River, to restore aquatic biodiversity. This ambitious project marks one of the largest state-led ecological interventions, aiming to reverse the damage caused by decades of hydro-infrastructure development. The effects of this initiative are profound, offering a glimmer of hope for endangered species and setting a precedent for global environmental efforts. The Massive Undertaking: 342 Hydro Plants and 300 Dams Removed The Chishui River, stretching over 250 miles through Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces, has long been a refuge for rare and endemic fish species. However, the river's ecosystem was severely fragmented by numerous dams and power stations. Since 2020, large-scale demolitions have been underway, and by the end of 2024, an impressive 300 out of 357 dams were dismantled. Additionally, 342 of 373 small hydropower stations were shut down, allowing the river to flow more freely and reconnect habitats. This achievement is a significant milestone, as it enables the natural water flow and reopens migratory routes essential for fish reproduction. Liu Fei, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized the importance of the restored habitat, which now meets the reproductive needs of the Yangtze sturgeon. Declared extinct in the wild, the sturgeon has shown signs of recovery, with recent hatchery-bred releases demonstrating successful natural reproduction. 'They're Hiding Everywhere Down There': Scientists Say 60% of Ocean Floor May Be Home to Rare Supergiant Crustaceans The 4,000-Mile Journey of the Yangtze River For decades, the Yangtze Basin's fish populations suffered due to human interventions that altered water flows, reduced oxygen levels, and disrupted critical connections between spawning and feeding grounds. Professor Zhou Jianjun, a hydraulic engineering expert, highlights that the key to ecological restoration is not necessarily demolishing facilities but changing water control methods to meet ecological needs. China's broader strategy includes a decade-long fishing ban, sand mining restrictions, and strict regulations on new infrastructure projects. These efforts have led to measurable gains in biodiversity and water quality. In Sichuan province alone, 5,131 hydropower stations were rectified, with 1,223 shut down. Beijing's 2023 biodiversity report noted sustained improvements in aquatic ecosystems, with recovering populations of fish, invertebrates, and amphibians and a significant decline in sand mining intensity. 'This Bridge Shouldn't Be Possible': China Unveils World's Highest Mega-Structure Now Ready to Open Above the Clouds A New Era for Riverine Restoration China's approach to river management reflects a shift from prioritizing energy production to protecting ecosystems. The successful restoration of the Chishui River sets a model for balancing development with ecological preservation. The Yangtze sturgeon, once struggling for survival, now benefits from the newly restored habitat, offering a promising blueprint for other heavily developed rivers. As the world faces increasing environmental challenges, China's actions inspire other nations to rethink their ecological strategies. The dismantling of these dams not only helps revitalize river habitats but also underscores the importance of sustainable development practices that prioritize the health of our planet's ecosystems. 'We've Crushed the Range Barrier': Japanese Electric SUV Stuns Industry With 807-Mile Performance Using Only an LFP Battery Global Implications and the Future of Ecological Efforts This ambitious ecological intervention holds significant implications for global conservation efforts. By prioritizing the restoration of river habitats, China demonstrates a commitment to reversing environmental degradation and promoting biodiversity. This initiative serves as a reminder of the critical balance between human development and nature conservation. As countries worldwide grapple with the consequences of environmental exploitation, China's example provides a roadmap for sustainable practices that benefit both nature and communities. The success of the Chishui River restoration project raises important questions about how other nations might adopt similar strategies. Could this be the catalyst for a global movement towards environmental restoration? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (21)
Malay Mail
27-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Guizhou's Fruitful Eco-Construction: from 'Experimental Zone' to 'Pilot Zone'
Visitors in Libo county's Xiaoqikong Scenic Area in Guizhou Province. Citizens visit Denggaoyunshan Park in Guiyang City. GUIYANG, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - Eco Forum Global Guyang 2025 will be held in Guiyang, Guizhou from July 5th to 6th. Guizhou, located in the southwest of China, is using an ecological pen to paint a gorgeous green picture along her mountains and rivers. From an 'Experimental Zone' to a 'Pilot Zone', Guizhou has embarked on a new path of green development characterized with prosperous economy, wealthy people and ecological persists in winning the 'Five Major Battles' of pollution prevention and control and coordinates the integrated eco-restoration of mountains, rivers, lakes, farmland, forests, grasslands and deserts. By 2024, the ambient air quality in 9 key cities and 88 counties in Guizhou has met Grade II, and the overall surface water quality has been remarkable. The excellent water quality rate of 222 monitoring sections of major rivers is 99.1%, and that of 23 exit sections reaches 100%. The water quality compliance rate of centralized drinking water sources at or above the county level remains 100%.The Wushui River (Wuyang River) in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture has been successfully selected as one of the Outstanding Cases of Beautiful Rivers and Lakes in China. Since 2019, the water quality in Qiandongnan Prefecture has been among the top 10 in China for six consecutive years. Mr. Wu Hougui, a member of the Loong Boat Team in Ximen Community, Zhenyuan County, said, 'The Loong Boat Competition tradition can not be inherited for thousands of years without lucid waters and lush mountains.'Guizhou is accelerating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, integrating green and low-carbon concept throughout the entire process of high-quality development. Guizhou has successfully established 85 national level green factories and 22 green industrial parks. The green economy accounts for about 48%.The first commercial hydrogen locomotive in China has started trial operation on Guizhou Meijin Railway Special Line in Zhongshan District, Liupanshui City, opening up a new path for clean coal transportation. The construction of 'Electric Guizhou' has achieved fruitful results. Since the beginning of 2025, a total of 3,054 electric heavy-duty trucks have been promoted and applied in the energy sector, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 332,000 forestry has also achieved a huge leap forward. In 2014, the total output value of Guizhou's forestry was only 60.1 billion yuan, and it exceeded 465.4 billion yuan in 2024. Over the past decade, the forest coverage rate has increased from 49% to 63.3%, with a forest area of 166 million 2024, Guizhou took the lead in establishing a unified and standardized mechanism for issuing forestry carbon tickets at the provincial level in China, granting the first batch of 10 provincial forestry carbon tickets and achieving a total of 11 million yuan in transactions. In addition, a total of 120 water rights transactions have been completed, with a transaction volume of 86.0287 million cubic meters, amounting to 31.5387 million tradition of 'Tree Planting for New Year Celebrations' has continued for 11 years, with 605 million more seedlings newly planted here. Since the 14Five-Year-Plan, Guizhou has shifted its greening focus from 'coverage expansion' to 'quality improvement'. Through projects such as degraded forest restoration and forest nurturing, the forest has been both 'greened' and 'increased in value'.Meanwhile, with both 'civil defense and technical defense', Guizhou has successfully protected the ecological foundation. For instance, there are 87 remote video surveillance points established in Guiyang to prevent forest fire. There are 400 infrared cameras installed to track the rare species in Mount Fanjing and more than 40,000 forest chiefs ready to guard forest has implemented the strategy of 'Refined Development of Rich Minerals' to promote efficient utilization of resources. In the field of phosphorus chemical industry, Qiannan Prefecture has laid out modern chemical and new energy battery material industries, realizing the transformation of phosphorus from 'fertilizer' to 'material'. The total output value of phosphorus based modern chemical and new energy battery materials has exceeded 50 billion yuan. Furthermore, in the field of aluminum industry, Shuicheng Economic Development Zone has achieved 100% in-situ conversion of aluminum liquid, and the number of aluminum related enterprises has increased from 1 in 2016 to is also actively developing the cultural tourism industry and digital economy. The Zhenyuan Loong Boat Race Cultural Festival has unleashed the consumption potential of cultural tourism. During the Loong Boat Festival this year, Zhenyuan County received 253,900 tourists, realizing a total tourism revenue of 234 million yuan. Additionally, Guizhou's digital economy growth rate has been among the top in the country for 9 consecutive years. There are 48 national key data centers under construction and in operation, making Guizhou one of the regions with the most intelligent computing resources and the strongest capabilities in #Guizhou The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
