WETLAND PROTECTION AND BASIN MANAGEMENT IN THE MIDDLE AND LOWER REACHES OF THE YANGTZE RIVER

Wetland is a unique ecosystem that has multi-function in the world, and is one of the most important living environments for human beings. Wetland protection in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River should be considered from the viewpoint of basin management, that is to transform from protection of a single wetland in the past to protection of wetlands in basin area as a whole. Some particular measures to be taken are as the followings: (1) to establish a uniform harmony mechanism in the river basin in order to have a general plan for wetland protection and utilization; (2) to combine the existing protection districts according to lake drainage area and species distribution, and to construct new wetland protection region in order to solve problems in management districts; (3) to develop wetland restoration and reconstruction; (4) to carry out reforesting in formerly cultivated land and to construct shelter forest of the Yangtze River in order to control soil erosion and to preserve the water resource; (5) to protect and utilize reasonably the wetland resources in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River; (6) to strengthen the research of wetland science.