Several Strategic Issues for the Construction of Ecological Civilization in Yangtze River Economic Belt

Abstract

To support the construction of ecological civilization in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Chinese Academy of Engineering launched a major consulting project in 2019 titled "Study on Several Strategic Issues for the Construction of Ecological Civilization in Yangtze River Economic Belt." Based on the project's results, this paper summarizes the achievements of ecological civilization construction in the Yangtze River Economic Belt in terms of top-level design, green demonstration, ecological protection, and environmental improvement. It then analyzes its main challenges regarding territorial development, industrial layout, river-lake relationship, ecological security, energy development, and environmental risks. Further, based on the concept of a life community of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grass, and sand, this study proposes several strategic suggestions focusing on ecological space management and control, water ecosystem health, green and high-quality development, ecological protection and restoration, ecological agriculture and forestry development, ecological product value realization, and the ecological civilization governance system.