Progress and Challenges in the Ecological Health of the Yellow River Basin

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the ecological condition of the Yellow River Basin has shown steady improvement, although a senior official warns that its environmental stability is still delicate and susceptible to climate-related risks. Recent national remote sensing surveys reveal that the basin is on a positive trend regarding ecological recovery, as highlighted by Zhang Yujun, the head of the nature and eco-conservation department at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

During a news conference, Zhang noted an increase of approximately 24.5 percent in areas of the basin achieving fairly good or better ecosystem quality, which is measured on a scale from 0 to 100. He also emphasized significant advancements in essential ecosystem services like soil retention, windbreak and sand fixation, and especially carbon sequestration, which has increased dramatically by over 89.6 percent.

Despite these encouraging developments, Zhang warned that the ecological foundation of the Yellow River Basin is still fragile. Water scarcity continues to be a major issue, with ongoing disparities between water supply and demand posing serious challenges. Furthermore, he identified the impact of industrial and energy infrastructure along with urban expansion as significant drivers contributing to the ecological strain in the basin.

Zhang cautioned that while ecological improvements are evident, the uncertainties brought about by climate change heighten the risks to the ecosystem. This situation calls for ongoing efforts in ecological protection and restoration to safeguard the progress achieved.