Disappearing reeds on Chongming Island: An environmental microhistory of Chinese eco-development

Abstract

This paper critically examines current ecological development planning and practice in China through an environmental microhistory approach. By tracing the gradual disappearance of an indigenous plant – the common reed ( Phragmites australis) – on Chongming Island in Shanghai, which is known for the grand Eco-Islands development plan, this paper reveals the paradox of ecological destruction through eco-development in China. Based on data collected from archives, through oral history and through on-site fieldwork, we have reconstructed and analysed the transformation of Chongming Island’s reed ecology over time. Our research documents the historical importance of reeds to Chongming culture and identity. The transformation of the reed landscape mirrors, we argue, broader environmental and social transformations on the island. The near extinction of the once abundant reed in the coastal wetlands due to massive land reclamation projects for the purpose of industrialisation and urbanisation is a reflection of the prevailing pursuit for economic growth. Land reclamation projects in the early 2000s were facilitated by the planting of an invasive grass that replaced reeds and other native wetland plants. Ironically, the invasive grass served to legitimise continuous land reclamation as part of Chongming’s eco-development. Moreover, reeds that grew by the rivers and constituted a central part of local livelihoods were gradually wiped out as a result of a series of river regulation projects under the eco-development. Our research reveals that the current ecological agenda has privileged modern engineering solutions and aesthetics while largely ignoring local traditional knowledge. The case of Chongming delivers a sobering message that well-intentioned ecological initiatives can in fact have disastrous effects if the local environment, its ecological features, cultural characteristics, and historical and social contexts are not fully considered. Overall, this paper pioneers an environmental microhistory approach in evaluating contemporary urban ecological initiatives and contributes methodological and empirical insights to advance Chinese eco-developments.

Mainstreaming sustainable innovation: unlocking the potential of nature-based solutions for climate change and biodiversity

“…Based on case studies of existing experimentation in European cities, we have identified different set of stepping stones and distinct pathways for mainstreaming NBS for climate benefits and for biodiversity benefits, but the dual-track approach for mainstreaming impedes any possible synergies between climate and biodiversity actions. Trade-offs can arise if urban climate responses 'encourage NBS with low biodiversity value, such as afforestation with non-native monocultures' (Seddon et al, 2020, p.1;Xie et al, 2020b). To synergistically pursue climate and biodiversity benefits and to minimize trade-offs, we have argued that mainstreaming NBS should be based on common stepping stones that are significant for both climate and biodiversity.…”

Engineering an Ecological Civilization Along Shanghai’s Main Waterfront and Coastline: Evaluating Ongoing Efforts to Construct an Urban Eco-Network

“…In parallel, even with the introduction of the National Ecological Demonstration Zone, land reclamation continued, even within natural reserve areas. This happened under the guise of removing invasive plants (Xie et al, 2020).…”

“…Limiting participation to a select group of stakeholders also excludes feedback as a possible enabler for learning, e.g., as we saw in Section Chongming Eco-Island (Xie et al, 2020). Yet this means that the implementation speed of pilot-projects and demonstration zones can be accelerated, also because of state ownership and mandate over land and resources.…”

The socioenvironmental state and urban transitions: Eco-urbanism in China and the UK

“…Instead, as Chang (2017a) shows in her analysis of Chinese eco-city projects, narratives of the 'failure' of individual projects mask the globalising processes that constitute eco-urbanism, and which mean that 'failed' projects continue to impact and influence future urban directions and strategies. In their work on Chongming Island (near Shanghai), the location of the failed 2000s/2010s Dongtan eco-city project, Xie et al (2022) have employed a microhistory approach that shows how socio-natural relations change over time and through the complex processes of eco-urban and other forms of development. Others (Hodson, Evans and Schliwa, 2018;Truelove and Cornea, 2021) have likewise highlighted how heterogeneous spaces that include project failures can usefully be considered as spaces of potential transition and change.…”

“…First, we deploy an international, comparative approach across two new eco-urban projects, one in the Global East and the other in the Global North (Shin, Lees and López-Morales, 2016; Müller, 2020). This is meaningful because much recent research on eco-urbanism has focused on single-case approach, and where larger-scale comparative studies have been attempted, they have tended to be either large-scale studies, or based on surveys (Joss, 2010, 2011) or cross-national comparisons (Li and Qiu 2015, Yin, Olsson and Håkansson 2015). There has been relatively little focus on establishing comparative insights across two discrete sites or projects, especially when the comparison cuts across the Global East and North.…”