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Watershed Environmental Degradation and Sustainable Development

The Case of the Yellow River Basin

  • 2025
  • Book
Author
Tongxin Zhu
Publisher
Springer Nature Switzerland
Part of
Springer Professional "Business + Economics & Engineering + Technology"
Springer Professional "Engineering + Technology"
Springer Professional "Business + Economics"
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About this book

This volume is a continuation of the author’s book Watershed Erosion Processes (Springer, 2021). Expanding on this previous work, author Tongxin Zhu systematically explores the major environmental issues and solutions for achieving sustainable development in China’s large, complex Yellow River Basin. The basin, located in northern China, has a drainage area of 290,343 square miles. The Yellow River, the second longest river in China and the sixth longest river in the world, passes through seven provinces and two autonomous regions within which more than 100 million people reside. As the cradle of Chinese civilization, the Yellow River Basin has had a long history of human habitation. Rapid population growth in recent history and fragile environment conditions in the basin have created a range of environmental problems, including soil erosion, sedimentation, desertification, water pollution and shortage, salination, loss of vegetation cover and biodiversity, and so on. Global warming further intensifies snow/glacial melting and permafrost degradation and increases the frequency and magnitude of extreme climatic events (e.g., floods, droughts etc.). In the past few decades, massive efforts have been made to tackle the abovementioned problems through conservation, restoration, and management in the watershed. In this volume, the author tackles many issues related to this watershed, including but not limited to soil conservation, water quality, land use, and the effects of climate change.

Table of Contents

  1. Frontmatter

  2. Chapter 1. Introduction

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    This chapter begins by examining the environmental impacts of human activities, then explores key watershed processes. It proceeds to discuss the goals of watershed management in advancing sustainable development. Finally, it offers an overview of the book’s structure and contents.

  3. Chapter 2. The Yellow River Basin

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    This chapter discusses the formation of the Yellow River and examines the physical environment conditions of its drainage basin, including the region’s topography, climate, and soils, water resources, and land cover. It also explores human impacts on the natural environment in the basin.

  4. Chapter 3. Paleo-Climates and Environments

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    Understanding the paleoenvironmental conditions of a watershed is essential for evaluating human impacts on the current environment, guiding the restoration of degraded ecosystems, and predicting the future climate changes and their impact. This chapter will cover: (1) methods for reconstructing paleoclimates and paleoenvironmental conditions; (2) the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and its impact on the climates of the Yellow River basin; (3) the paleoclimates and paleoenvironmental conditions of the Loess Plateau; and (4) the migration patterns of the lower stream channels of the Yellow River.

  5. Chapter 4. Soil Erosion: Controlling Factors and Processes

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    This chapter begins by examining the key factors influencing soil erosion in the region, including climate, topography, soil, and land use and cover. It then delves into the different erosion processes such as rainsplash, sheet erosion, rill and gully erosion, mass movement, and tunnel erosion. Finally, it addresses the limitations of current research and provides the recommendations for future studies on soil erosion issues in the region.

  6. Chapter 5. Soil Conservation and Sustainability

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    In this chapter, we will examine a range of soil conservation strategies implemented in the Loess Plateau region to control soil erosion. This analysis will focus on: evaluating the effectiveness of biological, engineering and agronomic measures in reducing soil and water loss; investigating the effectiveness of check dams in capturing sediment and preventing gully progression; assessing the benefits of combining different conservation practices at the scale of small watersheds for erosion control.

  7. Chapter 6. Water Resources Management

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    The twin environmental problems of water quality and water quantity are acute in the Yellow River basin. With only about 2% of the total water resources in China, the basin accounts for 17% of agricultural lands and 8% of national population. Therefore, the Yellow River basin faces critical water issues such as water scarcity, intersectoral water allocations, water pollution, and conflict with economic development. In this chapter, the spatial and temporal variation of water resources in the Yellow River basin are examined. Furthermore, the natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the water quantity and quality are explored. Finally, the strategies for water management sustainability in the basin is discussed.

  8. Chapter 7. Biological Deprivation and Restoration

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    This chapter will begin by exploring the natural vegetation, followed by an analysis of the historical changes in vegetation cover within the basin and their underlying causes. It will then address the current state of revegetation efforts, including their benefits and challenges. The chapter will also provide recommendations for the integration of revegetation into ecological sustainability and socio-economic development.

  9. Chapter 8. Flood and Prevention

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    The Yellow River has earned “China’s sorrow” for its frequent flood events in the history. The lower channel is an “elevated” river due to sedimentation in the channel confined by the levees. To combat flood hazards, a range of measures have been taken, such as constructing reservoirs, enforcing levees, reducing sediment entering the Yellow River, and dredging channels. This chapter will discuss the sources of sediment deposits, the countermeasures to reduce the sediment input to the river channel, and flood prevention and mitigation in the lower channel.

  10. Chapter 9. Droughts, Salinization and Sustainable Agriculture

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    The Yellow River basin, especially the Loess Plateau region, is highly prone to droughts. This chapter will first describe the drought indexes used in the region, followed by a discussion on the causes and impacts of droughts. Additionally, strategies for sustainable agriculture, including land use adaptations and specific techniques to mitigate the effects of droughts, will be examined. Lastly, the factors contributing to salinization in the basin and potential strategies for addressing them will be explored.

  11. Chapter 10. Wetland Management

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    The Yellow River basin contains 3.91 million hectares of wetlands, distributed as 80.4% in the upper watershed, 12.5% in the middle watershed, and 7.1% in the lower watershed. The wetlands in the source region of the Yellow River are primarily alpine meadows, while those in the middle reaches consist of riverine and floodplain wetlands, and the lower reaches are mainly coastal wetlands. This chapter will explore the ecological functions of these wetlands, as well as the efforts and challenges involved in wetland management in the basin.

  12. Chapter 11. Environmental Impacts of Mining and Oil Production

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    The Yellow River basin serves as an important base for mining coal, oil and natural gas, and metals such as copper, iron, and aluminum. However, mining activities in the region have significant environmental consequences, including water pollution, vegetation loss, soil erosion and deterioration, and land subsidence. This chapter will examine the impacts of mining activities and oil production on the environment and the restoration strategies employed for ecological restoration.

  13. Chapter 12. Policy-driven Large Scale Environmental Restoration Projects

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    This chapter explores policy-driven large-scale ecological restoration initiatives, including the Grain-for-Green Program, the Three-River Sources Program, and the Natural Protection Reserve of the Yellow River Delta. While these projects have been mentioned briefly in previous chapters, this chapter provides a comprehensive examination of their environmental, social, and economic impacts. It also discusses stakeholder participation in watershed management, collaboration between government and farmers, the balance between short-term and long-term development goals, and the environmental and economic benefits and conflicts associated with watershed management.

  14. Chapter 13. Climate Change Impacts And Adaptation

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    This chapter explores the effects of climate change on watershed environments, including snow and glacial melting, desertification, and carbon sequestration in the upper basin; drought and land degradation in the middle basin; flood risks in the lower basin; and the impact of sea level rise on the river delta. Additionally, the chapter examines how these changes may influence social and economic development.

  15. Chapter 14. Syntheses and Conclusions

    Tongxin Zhu
    Abstract
    The Yellow River basin exhibits considerable regional variation in physical environmental conditions, human-environment interactions, and the environmental challenges stemming from these interactions. These variations necessitate tailored strategies to address and mitigate distinct regional environmental issues, while also coordinating the downstream impacts of these strategies. Numerous studies have examined the effects of both human and natural factors on the environment, the environmental problems, and the impacts of climate change. However, research gaps persists. Despite significant progress in addressing environmental issues in the basin, ongoing efforts toward sustainability remain essential.

  16. Backmatter

Title
Watershed Environmental Degradation and Sustainable Development
Author
Tongxin Zhu
Copyright Year
2025
Electronic ISBN
978-3-032-02448-0
Print ISBN
978-3-032-02447-3
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02448-0

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