On May 20, the Ministry of Water Resources of China announced that the Yellow River Conservancy Commission has officially released the Soil and Water Conservation Bulletin in Yellow River Basin (2024) (hereafter the Bulletin). Over the past five years, the area of soil erosion in the Yellow River Basin has decreased by 18,400 square kilometers, a reduction of 6.96%.
The Bulletin shows that by the end of 2024, the area affected by soil erosion in the Yellow River Basin reached 245,800 square kilometers, while vegetation coverage totaled 541,300 square kilometers. The soil and water conservation rate stood at 69.07%, with 58,300 sediment retention dams in place.
In recent years, Henan has consistently advanced efforts to combat soil erosion in the Yellow River Basin. By establishing a coordinated mechanism at the provincial level, the province has strengthened cooperation among departments. As a result, both the extentand intensity of soil erosion in the Yellow River Basin have shown a positive "double decline" trend. The area affected by soil erosion has decreased from 7,499 square kilometers in 2021 to 7,123 square kilometers in 2024, while the soil and water conservation rate has risen to 80.3%.
Aligned with the national strategy for ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, the Henan Provincial Department of Water Resources has issued a special soil and water conservation plan, with the goal of controlling soil erosion across 10,300 square kilometers by 2035. (Chinese source: Henan Daily Reporter: Tan Yong Translator: Zhao Hanqing Proofreader: Ding Lan)
