River Basin Management

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter has focused on river basin management in China. The major river basins, their water resources, and key issues have been introduced. Legal arrangements, key river basin management systems, and river basin organization and development processes have been studied. The characteristics, experiences, and lessons of river basin management in China have been summarized. A national unified approach for river basin management has been adopted, regardless of the significant differences between these river basins. Authority for the management of inter-jurisdictional river basins is derived from the national government and water-related laws in China. In the beginning of the 1950s, China formed a water management institution focused on water project construction. However, this created challenges, such as neglecting or rejecting the water resource benefits from river basin management and multi-purpose utilization of local and departmental interests. The country established and strengthened the river basin management institutions in the seven major river basins. Now, a river basin management model with Chinese characteristics based on planning and coordination has been formed, making river basin management an important factor in promoting integrated development and management of China’s water resources. The RBO has become an important institution linking jurisdictional management and river basin management.KeywordsRiver basin managementRiver basin management organizationNational unified approachJurisdictional management and river basin management