China, People's Republic of : Hubei Huanggang Dabie Mountain Ecosystem Protection and Carbon-Neutral Green Development Project

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Agro-industry, marketing, and trade - Land-based natural resources management - Rural sanitation - Water-based natural resources management

The Huanggang Municipal Government (HMG) implemented several major reforestation and ecosystem protection programs supported through national and provincial fiscal budget transfers, including the Grain to Green Program, the YRB protective forest system, and wildlife protection and nature reserve construction projects. From 2016 to 2020, a total of CNY2.1 billion in public investments greatly improved the forest habitat and people's livelihoods through job creation. However, the ecosystems remain constrained due to development and population pressure. The forest is degraded, with reduced quality of forest stands, increased soil erosion, and losses of biodiversity and natural habitat. The wetlands, consisting of a complex system of rivers, ponds, and lakes, continue to be degraded. Many of the natural waterbodies either became commercial fishponds or have been drained all together.

Depending on the season, the water quality of about 25% to 100% of the tributaries of the Bailian River is equal to or below Class IV. Major sources of pollution are organic and nutrients from agriculture, aquaculture, and domestic sewage. Many villages and towns have inadequate or no wastewater treatment facilities, and women and girls suffer disproportionately from inadequate sanitation. Lakes and rivers are no longer connected aquatic systems, further degrading the water environment and ecology, and weakening resilience to floods and droughts.

Agriculture is a major source of pollution in Huanggang. Seasonal flooding and soil erosion from agricultural lands result in excessive levels of nutrients, pesticides, and sediment entering water bodies. The agriculture sector was responsible for 114,694 tons of chemical oxygen demand, 65% of the municipal's total; 11,964 tons of nitrogen, 58% of total; 1,895 tons of phosphorus, 75% of total; and 9,960 tons of volatile organic compounds, 32% of total in Huanggang in 2019. Agriculture is also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, producing 55,000 tons of methane from livestock and 77,000 tons from paddy rice cultivation, equivalent to 3.3 million tons of carbon dioxide.

In 2021, agriculture contributed CNY89.8 billion, or 35.5% of the annual GDP of the municipality. However, agriculture is still dominated by traditional subsistence farming, often led by women, on small land plots with declining productivity. Low productivity can be attributed to (i) poor soil conditions; (ii) inefficient use of inputs and low adoption of technologies; (iii) inadequate road, irrigation, and drainage infrastructure; and (iv) inadequate agricultural extension services. Rural economic development needs both improved land productivity and enhanced value addition throughout the value chain. However, the value chain is hampered by (i) a lack of crop diversification; (ii) weak capacity of agribusinesses in branding and marketing; (iii) poor post-harvest facilities and services; and (iv) a lack of access to online markets. Nevertheless, with the new E'zhou airport being completed in the region, opportunities exist to enhance the agricultural product value chain in Huanggang.

Rural vitalization in the Yangtze River Economic Belt realized (Yangtze River Economic Belt Development Plan, 2016-2030)

Ecosystem services, livelihood opportunities, and climate resilience of the Dabie Mountain region improved

Institutional capacity and knowledge for ecosystem protection and green development enhanced

Rural environment infrastructure and business opportunities in ecosystem protection improved

Climate-smart green rural development demonstrated