Pre-selection of Demonstration Sub-basins for EU Projects

From January 14 to 15, BFS and IUCN China organized experts from Beijing Water Authority, Beijing Forestry University and Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, to conduct pre-selection of demonstration sub-basins in the upreach areas of the Miyun Reservoir Watershed, for the EU funded Mega-cities and Their Watersheds: Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable Drinking Water Sources.

Experts investigated bio-physical conditions in three small watersheds in Miyun County’s Huangyukou village, Huairou District’s Xiaoliangqian villlage, and Hebei Province’s Xiaowopu village. Staff from local township water conservation stations, village leaders and villagers, were interviewed specifically about household garbage treatment, household and agricultural wastewater treatment, application of chimerical fertilizers and pesticides, and social-economic conditions. A detailed report will be prepared, based on which two small watersheds will be selected to carry out nature-based solutions, to provide a model for best watershed conservation and management practices.

The EU project approach is to implement specific nature-based ecological restoration and non-pollution control measures in priority sub-basins in pilot watersheds, and undertake watershed health assessment and monitoring activities in the Beijing’s Miyun Reservoir Watershed and Guangdong Province’s Jiaquan Watershed.