National development and reform： strengthening the protection and management of important lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

　　According to the National Development and Reform Commission, a few days ago, the National Development and Reform Commission issued a guiding opinion on strengthening the protection and governance of important lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, proposing that by 2035, the effectiveness of protection and governance of important lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt should meet the people’s needs for a beautiful lake ecological environment, and basically reach a level of lake protection and governance that is compatible with the goal of beautiful China, effectively ensuring the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The full text is as follows:

Guiding Opinions of the National Development and Reform Commission on Strengthening the Protection and Governance of Important Lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

Development and Reform Area [2021] No.1617

　　Development and Reform Commission of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan:

　　Lakes are important carriers of water resources. There are many lake systems in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and there are five freshwater lakes in China. As the key elements of river ecosystem, Poyang Lake, Dongting Lake, Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake, Erhai Lake and Dianchi Lake are rich in water, which plays an irreplaceable role in ensuring the safety of ecology, water resources and flood control in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and promoting the economic and social development of the basin.

　　Since the implementation of the strategy of promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the provinces and cities along the Yangtze River have vigorously promoted the protection and management of the main stream and important tributaries of the Yangtze River, while strengthening the protection and restoration of lakes, and achieved remarkable results. However, due to the special laws of lakes, such as vast water area, slow water exchange and easy diffusion of pollutants, it is more difficult to protect and repair them than the main branches and tributaries of the Yangtze River. In addition, industry and agriculture, population and towns along the lake are densely populated, economic development has long competed with lakes for water and land, and urban construction, especially real estate development, has encroached on lake ecological space. Important lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt generally face outstanding problems such as damaged ecological functions, insufficient water conservation capacity, deterioration of water environment, shrinking biodiversity and declining flood storage capacity. In order to thoroughly implement the supreme leader’s ecological civilization thought, further strengthen the protection and management of important lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and continuously improve the ecological environment quality of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, with the consent of the leading group for promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, we hereby put forward the following opinions.

　　I. General requirements

　　(1) Guiding ideology. Guided by the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the New Era, we will fully implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Plenary Sessions of the 19th National Congress, thoroughly implement the Supreme Leader’s ecological civilization thought, completely, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development concept based on the new development stage, integrate and serve the new development pattern, closely follow the development objectives and tasks of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and pay close attention to the major issues of important lakes. Focusing on Poyang Lake, Dongting Lake, Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake, Erhai Lake, Dianchi Lake and other important lakes, taking the protection of lake ecological environment as a breakthrough, the rivers and lakes should be treated together, the waterfront should be treated together, and the watershed should be treated together, so as to promote the transformation of important lakes from excessive intervention and overuse to natural restoration and recuperation, build a complete, stable and healthy lake ecosystem, and help the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

　　(2) Basic principles

　　Ecological priority and green development. Firmly establish the concept of Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, give full play to the self-repairing ability of nature, and effectively protect important lake ecosystems. According to the carrying capacity of the lake ecosystem, we will further adjust and optimize the layout of the industrial structure in the lake area, and carry out water production and quantity to promote regional green and sustainable development.

　　Make overall plans to promote and integrate governance. Follow the laws of natural ecosystem succession and evolution of rivers and lakes, respect and conform to nature, grasp that rivers and lakes are an organic whole, and consider the elements of river and lake ecosystems as a whole according to the integrity, systematicness and internal logic of the ecosystem of mountains, rivers and lakes, and promote comprehensive management, systematic management and source management.

　　According to local conditions, classified policy. Fully sum up the practical experience of protection and management of important lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, deeply analyze the characteristics of different types of lakes, scientifically distinguish the commonness and individuality of lakes, grasp the main aspects of major contradictions and contradictions in lake protection and management, focus on key areas, fields and key elements, highlight key points, fill shortcomings, strong and weak items, and scientifically manage and accurately protect them.

　　Deepen reform and improve the mechanism. Benchmarking the new requirements of major national strategies such as the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta on lake protection and governance, improving the system and mechanism of lake protection and governance, improving the policy of lake protection and governance, promoting scientific and technological innovation, further improving the ability and level of lake governance, establishing and improving the long-term mechanism of lake protection and governance, and improving the system of lake protection and governance.

　　(3) Overall objectives. By 2025, there will be no large-scale cyanobacteria bloom in Taihu Lake and Chaohu Lake, which will lead to the black odor of water bodies and ensure the safety of water supply sources. The ecological environment quality of Dongting Lake, Poyang Lake, Erhai Lake and Dianchi Lake has been consolidated and improved, the outstanding ecological problems have been effectively treated, and the water quality has been stable and good. The storage capacity of lakes such as Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake has been continuously improved, and a healthy, stable and complete lake and its surrounding ecosystem have been built in an all-round way. By 2035, the effectiveness of the protection and management of important lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt will meet the people’s needs for a beautiful lake ecological environment, and the level of lake protection and management will basically reach the goal of beautiful China, effectively ensuring the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

　　Second, focus on optimizing the spatial layout

　　(4) Accelerate the construction of a management and control system. Focusing on the objectives and tasks of the protection and management of important lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, based on the carrying capacity of resources and environment, taking into account the integrity of lake ecosystem, the continuity of physical and geographical units and the sustainability of economic and social development, we will speed up the preparation of land spatial planning for the Yangtze River Basin and establish and improve a unified spatial planning system for the basin. We will evaluate the carrying capacity of resources and environment and the suitability of land space development, identify important ecosystems in the lake area, effectively link up the red line of ecological protection, and rationally arrange all kinds of spaces and elements. Optimize the layout of land space development and protection, and plan the utilization of lake water resources, water pollution prevention, water ecological restoration, aquatic biological protection and other spaces according to local conditions. Strengthen the monitoring, evaluation and early warning of key lake basin protection and governance planning, and strictly implement the control of land and space use.

　　(five) to promote the registration of natural resources. Explore and promote the unified registration of natural resources in Poyang Lake, Dongting Lake, Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake, Erhai Lake, Dianchi Lake and other important lakes, and build a unified registration system of natural resources with the rule of law, standardization, standardization and informationization. Clarify the boundaries of different natural resource types and clearly define the ownership subject of natural resource assets in ecological space such as important lake basins. Actively explore the ways and means of water right registration, improve the property right system of water resources and promote the optimal allocation of water resources.

　　Third, actively promote ecological protection

　　(six) to strengthen the protection of water coastline. Define the scope of lake management in accordance with the law and the plan, scientifically delimit the lake shoreline protection area, reserved area, controlled utilization area and development and utilization area, clarify the requirements for zoning control and use control, strictly control the project construction and activities that may affect flood control safety, water supply safety and ecological safety, fulfill the permits for river-related construction projects and activities in accordance with the law, and effectively implement the ecological environment impact assessment system. It is forbidden to reclaim land around the lake, and return the land to the lake in an orderly manner. Strengthen the management of sand mining in the lake area and severely crack down on illegal sand mining. We will continue to standardize and promote the "clean-up and chaos" of lakes (indiscriminate occupation, indiscriminate mining, disorderly piling and disorderly construction), carry out plastic waste cleaning in a normal way, and continuously consolidate the effectiveness of cleaning up and rectifying.

　　(seven) the implementation of wetland protection and restoration. Adhere to the combination of protection priority, natural restoration and artificial restoration, lay out and implement major ecological protection and restoration projects in key ecological areas of the Yangtze River, and promote the protection and restoration of important wetlands as a whole. Strengthen the construction of wetland protection and management infrastructure, actively promote the restoration of wetland natural habitats and important wildlife habitats, and promote the steady improvement of important wetland ecosystem functions. We will improve the satellite remote sensing monitoring system, strengthen the supervision and inspection of wetlands, resolutely stop reclamation and occupation of wetlands under various pretexts according to law, and speed up the retreat of wetlands that can be restored.

　　(8) Improve the level of biodiversity. Focusing on Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake, we will carry out investigation and monitoring of lake biodiversity and evaluation of biological integrity index, implement rescue operations for rare and endangered species such as Chinese sturgeon and Yangtze finless porpoise, promote the combination of ex situ conservation and artificial breeding protection, and strengthen the protection of key habitats and the preservation of genetic resources. We will improve the system of lake recuperation, strictly implement the system of banning fishing in lakes, resolutely crack down on illegal fishing and effectively restore aquatic biodiversity. Strictly manage the introduction of alien species according to law and strengthen the management of invasive species with major hazards. Strengthen the protection of migratory birds and improve the habitat environment of migratory birds in lakes.

　　Fourth, in-depth implementation of pollution control

　　(9) Strengthen the rectification of outstanding problems in the ecological environment. We will continue to do a good job in the rectification of the ecological environment warning film in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the problems involving important lakes disclosed by the central ecological environmental protection inspector, establish problem accounts in different categories, clarify the rectification plan, pay close attention to negative examples, and strengthen law enforcement supervision. Explore the establishment of a joint prevention and control mechanism for river basin pollution, organize the investigation of deep-seated problems, and establish a long-term mechanism for rectification of lake ecological and environmental problems, and find them together, rectify them together, and sell them together.

　　(10) Intensify the comprehensive prevention and control of pollution. Further promote the implementation of the "4+1" project of urban sewage and garbage treatment, chemical pollution control, agricultural non-point source pollution control, ship pollution control and tailings pollution control in the lake area, and continuously consolidate the achievements of lake environmental pollution control. Ensure the operation of urban and rural domestic sewage treatment facilities in the lake area, standardize the construction of sewage outlets into the lake, and strengthen the investigation and rectification of sewage treatment facilities in industrial parks. Strictly control agricultural non-point source pollution, support the use of organic fertilizers and green pesticides, and improve the comprehensive utilization rate of livestock manure in the lake area.

　　Five, to ensure the safety of drinking water sources

　　(eleven) to strengthen the environmental protection of water sources. In order to ensure the water quality of the water source of the Middle Route of South-to-North Water Transfer Project as the top priority, we will implement special water source enforcement actions and seriously investigate and deal with illegal acts in drinking water source protection areas. Focusing on Dongting Lake and Taihu Lake, we will investigate and ban sewage outlets and docks that have a great impact on water sources. Regularly investigate and evaluate the environmental conditions of centralized groundwater drinking water source replenishment areas, and carry out pilot projects for the remediation of groundwater contaminated sites. For drinking water sources that do not meet the requirements of Class III water quality, it is necessary to formulate and implement water supply guarantee and water quality compliance schemes.

　　(twelve) to improve the safety and security capabilities of water sources. Reasonable layout of drinking water sources and water intakes in the lake area, formulation and publication of drinking water source lists, delineation of drinking water source protection areas, strengthening the construction of emergency standby water sources in important cities in the lake area, and improving the safety and security level of urban and rural drinking water sources. Carry out standardized construction of urban drinking water sources and safety assessment of drinking water sources, and promote the relocation and transformation of heavily polluting enterprises that affect drinking water safety. Strengthen the monitoring of drinking water sources in Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake and other lakes during the high-incidence period of cyanobacteria, and formulate and improve the emergency plan for sudden water pollution incidents with "one lake and one policy".

　　Sixth, accelerate the promotion of green development

　　(thirteen) to strengthen the conservation and intensive use of water resources. In-depth implementation of national water-saving actions to promote the transformation of production, living and ecological water use in the lake area to economical and intensive use. Solidly promote water saving and efficiency improvement in industry, agriculture and cities and towns, strictly control the construction of high-water consumption projects, and strengthen the water use plan and quota management of key monitoring water users in the lake area. Strengthen the demonstration of water resources, improve the monitoring and early warning mechanism of water resources carrying capacity, strengthen the monitoring and measurement of water intake, and strictly control the total regional water consumption.

　　(14) Adjust and improve the industrial structure. Strictly implement the negative list system for the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, accelerate industrial clean production, recycling transformation and comprehensive utilization of resources, and scientifically build the industrial development pattern in the lake area. Strengthen the rectification of "scattered pollution" enterprises, promote the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries such as papermaking, printing and dyeing in Taihu Lake and Chaohu Lake, orderly promote the transfer of related industries to areas with strong resource carrying capacity, and properly do a good job in the follow-up basic livelihood security such as withdrawing from industries and banning fishing in lakes. Explore ways to realize the value of ecological products in Taihu Lake, Erhai Lake and Dongting Lake, and promote the transformation of ecological value.

　　(15) Vigorously promote economic transformation. Actively develop strategic emerging industries and cultivate industries such as biotechnology, new energy, new materials and environmental protection according to local conditions. Actively develop modern service industries in qualified lake areas such as Taihu Lake and fully absorb employed people. We will guide the development of various forms of moderate scale operations and vigorously develop efficient ecological agriculture in Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake. We will promote the development of lake tourism in Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake, create a global tourism demonstration zone, strengthen and improve industries with distinctive advantages such as eco-agriculture, eco-tourism, vacation and recreation, and help promote the industrial transformation and development of the lake area.

　　Seven, improve the system and mechanism.

　　(sixteen) to strengthen the system of rivers and lakes. In accordance with the principle of unified planning, overall planning of river basins and respective responsibilities, relying on the platform of river length system and lake length system, we will improve the lake management system combining river basin management with administrative area management, improve the organization system of lake length system, and compact the territorial responsibility of lake protection and governance. Explore the establishment of a coordinated linkage mechanism between provincial lakes and lakes, and coordinate and solve major issues of lake protection and governance across regions and basins. Study and establish a joint prevention and control mechanism for trans-regional lakes, and strengthen regional cooperation and departmental linkage. Strict supervision and assessment of lake protection and governance, and improve the inspection and supervision system.

　　(seventeen) explore the establishment of ecological compensation mechanism. Encourage the establishment of ecological protection compensation mechanism in the location of important lakes, promote the location of important lakes and rivers entering and leaving lakes to actively explore new ways of compensation for ecological protection in river basins, determine the improvement target of lake water ecological environment through consultation, and accelerate the formation of a pattern of joint protection and governance of lake ecological environment. We will further improve the compensation mechanism for ecological protection and increase the protection of important ecosystems such as forests, grasslands and wetlands. Give full play to the guiding role of central funds and local governments, and improve the channels of compensation funds.

　　(eighteen) to improve the level of supervision and law enforcement. Make full use of modern monitoring methods such as unmanned aerial vehicles, vigorously promote the modernization, automation and informatization of lake monitoring, and continuously improve the monitoring ability and monitoring efficiency. Establish and improve the comprehensive evaluation system of lakes, and regularly and objectively evaluate the health and ecological security of lakes. Accelerate the improvement of laws and regulations on lake protection and governance, vigorously promote joint law enforcement, and strive to improve the comprehensive supervision system. Establish and improve the connection between lake protection administrative law enforcement and criminal justice, and intensify the crackdown on water encroachment, illegal drainage, illegal sand mining and illegal fishing.

　　Viii. Strengthening safeguard measures

　　(nineteen) to strengthen organizational leadership. Adhere to the working principles of overall planning by the central government, overall responsibility by the province and implementation by cities and counties. The Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and other departments have studied and formulated major plans and policy recommendations for lake protection and governance, and coordinated and solved major problems across regions and basins, with strong support from relevant departments. At the provincial level, it is necessary to fulfill the main responsibility, strengthen planning, systematically promote implementation, and issue policy documents to complete the protection and management of important lakes in this province within 2021. At the city and county levels, we will put them in place one by one according to the deployment, further strengthen the practice of making rivers and lakes long at the grass-roots level, and ensure new achievements in lake protection and governance.

　　(twenty) to deepen the study of the problem. Combined with the natural characteristics and functional attributes of different types of lakes, the background situation of lake protection and management was found out. In view of the common and individual problems, we will carry out in-depth research on major issues such as the evolution of river-lake relations, the causes of environmental pollution, the mechanism of cyanobacteria bloom, the protection measures for plateau lakes, and the protection measures for aquatic organisms. Steadily promote the implementation of major projects such as river-lake connectivity, water conservancy and hydropower, and ecological environment protection projects, promote the harmony between rivers and lakes, and continuously expand the ecological environment capacity.

　　(twenty-one) to strengthen financial support. According to the division of financial affairs and expenditure responsibilities, governments at all levels reasonably arrange financial funds for lake protection and governance, and include qualified lake ecological environment protection and restoration projects into the scope of local government special bonds. Actively promote the establishment of a diversified investment and financing mechanism with government guidance, market operation and social participation, and guide state-owned enterprises, various financial institutions and social capital to participate in lake protection and governance according to laws and regulations. Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of lake protection and governance, carry out commendation and awards according to regulations, and further highlight the role of driving demonstration.

　　(twenty-two) to increase publicity. Intensify the propaganda of ecological environment protection of important lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, make full use of new media and media to publicize and promote good experiences and practices in lake protection and governance, and learn from each other. Strengthen public participation, vigorously publicize the concept of ecological priority and green development, guide the public to participate in voluntary actions for the protection of important lakes in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, raise public awareness of responsibility and participation in the protection of rivers and lakes, and promote the formation of a good atmosphere for jointly protecting the mother river of the Yangtze River.