Notice of Retraction: A preliminary study on land exploitation and utilization models of water-level - fluctuating zone (WLFZ) in the Three Gorges Reservoir area of ChongQing

Abstract

The Three Gorges Reservoir is one of the largest water conservancy and control projects in the world. After the accomplishment of the project in 2009, a 30-meter high water-level-fluctuating zone will appear along the banks. The WLFZ is a seasonal humid ecosystem . The distributed features and useful values of WLFZ are explored according to the program of water storage in the Three Gorges Reservoir in this paper. Six principles in the exploitation and utilization of land resource are stated , namely , sustainable land use; priority of ecosystem security; coordination of economic, ecological and social benefits; utilization based on types and elevation of WLFZ; market-orientation; easy ones first and difficult ones afterwards . Meanwhile, according to the types, grades, soil textures, shapes of landforms and climate conditions in WLFZ, six models for land use are suggested as: (l)agricultural development model in open terraces of WLFZ;(2) forestry and pasturing model on moderate and gentle sloping land (slope<;15°)of WLFZ;(3)aquatic product model in river bend of WLFZ;(4)tourism development model in areas with unique landscapes of WLFZ;(5)closing hillsides to facilitate forestation model through natural and artificial ways in gorges or rock exposed regions of WLFZ;and(6)town(city)landscape construction and geologic disaster prevention model of WLFZ. Some eco-environmental and pollution problems possibly incurred in the exploitation of WLFZ are also analyzed, and corresponding proposals are put forward, hoping to provide scientific basis for the planning and development of land resources of the Water-Level- Fluctuating Zone.