By Liu Changyu, Research Team on “A Case Study on the Governance of China in the New Era”, China Center for International Knowledge on Development

Research Report, No.180, 2021 (Total 6245) 2021-7-1

Abstract: Since the 18th CPC National Congress, ecological civilization has been endowed with new connotations of the times and has been refined through long-term practice. The river (lake) chief system is a system optimization in the course of reform and innovation to alleviate difficulties in river and lake basin management, and it is also an inherent requirement for realizing the new development concept. As the only province with abundant water resources including river, lake, sea and canal, Jiangsu province has explored typical and practical experience in the process of building the river (lake) system. The system has the following characteristics. It takes a holistic and positive stance for water management; It pushes ahead with water management by way of inter-department and coordinated mechanism; It takes a multi-dimensional assessment and incentive mechanism to effectively promote long-term water control; Through cross-regional cooperation, joint efforts are made for water management; It encourages the participation of various social sectors for water management in a targeted manner. The above-mentioned facts show that the river (lake) chief system has brought into play the institutional advantages of pooling social resources to accomplish major tasks including the efficient river basin management. It injects vitality into grassroots organizations for innovation-based river basin management in light of local institutional conditions. By guiding the public to participate in water governance and water protection, this system has further stimulated the value of the times and traditional cultural heritage for water management.

Keywords: river (lake) chiefs, river basin management, ecological civilization, environmental protection