Ecological water, a new focus of China's water management

Abstract

Water set aside for environmental purposes is now the fastest-growing category of water use in China. Since 2000 this ‘ecological water’ (EcoW) has grown to make up 5 % of the total water allocation (around 30 billion m3 of water). This paper provides the first substantial review of the history, definition, and policy rationale for EcoW in China, and allows us to compare the Chinese program with elsewhere. As in most countries, the growth in EcoW is a response to the over-allocation of water, and a recognition of the broader values of aquatic systems. In contrast to other countries, most EcoW is still allocated to support human values more than natural values. The earliest, and most celebrat..