Biological conservation in Yangtze River

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The State Council, China's cabinet, has released a guideline to improve aquatic life protection and ecological rehabilitation in the Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River, the longest river in China, has been damaged by human activities including dam building, water pollution, and over-fishing, resulting in deteriorating biodiversity and arduous tasks of ecological restoration, said the guideline from the General Office of the State Council.

Aerial view of the Yangtze River. /VCG Photo

Before 2020, fishing on major waters of the river will be banned throughout the year, more conservation areas will be built and better supervised, and important habitats along the river should be put under effective protection.

The critically endangered Yangtze alligator. /VCG Photo

During the same period, aquatic life should witness a recovery, and the trend of a deteriorating water environment and biodiversity should basically be curbed, the guideline said.

By 2035, noticeable improvements should be made in the river's environment, with aquatic habitats being fully protected, the number of aquatic species seeing marked growth and the ecological functions of the waters being effectively rehabilitated, it added.

The Yangtze River flowing to the east. /VCG PHoto

The protection of aquatic life will be included in the system for evaluating the work of local governments along the Yangtze River, according to the document.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency