China passes law to protect Yangtze River
- The country’s ‘mother river’ has suffered a series of environmental problems and this year a 10-year fishing ban was instituted to conserve stocks
- New legislation comes into force in March and is designed to strengthen sustainable development
China has passed a law to protect the Yangtze, which has been described as the country’s “mother river”.
The Yangtze River Protection Law will come into force on March 1 after being approved by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the country’s top legislative body, on Saturday.
It is the first law to protect a particular waterway in China.
The 6,300km (3,900-mile) Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and provides a vital lifeline for hundreds of millions of people.
Its valley covers an area of 1.8 million sq km, about a fifth of the national total, while the Yangtze River Economic Zone covers 11 provinces and cities, accounting for 40 per cent of the total population and GDP.
It provides a third of the country’s fresh water resources and three fifths of its hydroenergy reserves, but has suffered a series of environmental problems in recent years, including heavy pollution.