Abstract
The impacts of the Three Gorges Project are summarized in this paper from the viewpoint of the whole Changjiang (Yangtze) River basin and system ecology. Among the impacts on aquatic ecosystem and fishery of the river basin, the emphasis is placed on the survival of certain precious and rare species, such as the indigenous River Dolphin,Lipotes vexillifer. The impacts on terrestrial ecosystem include the ecological changes of the inundated, agricultural land, and the carrying capacity of the land for the resettled population in the upper reaches of the river, and changes of the environment of lowland district and lowlying paddy fields in the middle and lower reaches. The impacts on the surrounding geology and safety of the reservoir area include mud-rock flow, land slide and earthquake. The impacts on estuarine ecology involves increasing salinization of water and soil, erosion of coastline, and the security of Shanghai City. The impacts on the cultural landscape of the Three Gorges area are also highlighted. Through the overall and systematic analysis, the conclusion is drawn that there are both advantageous and disadvantageous aspects in the effects of the Three Gorges Project on ecology and environment, but the disadvantageous effects are the greater.
Published Version
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