Abstract
The article presents a review of environmental degradation and its threats in China. Air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, soil degradation, sand depositing in dams, decaying urban infrastructure, and more and more hazards such as floods, landslides and soil erosion are major consequences of environmental degradation and are making tremendous loss both in life and property. Through investigation, the author found that poor air quality in the large cities; water pollution in the downstream of many rivers; the multiple problems of many mining areas; lack of access to fresh water; decaying sewage systems; and the disastrous impact of these environmental degradations on public health and agricultural products in many provinces is rather serious. Relationship of environmental degradation and natural hazards is close; more attention should be put in environmental degradation that may surpass economy progress if the trend continues. It is therefore imperative that Chinese government undertake a series of prudent actions now that will enable to be in the best possible position when the current environmental crisis ultimately passes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anon.: 17/11/1998, 'Conservationist's Killing Blamed on Poachers', in South China Morning Post, Hong Kong.
Banuri, T. B. and Marglin, A.: 1993, Who will Save the Forests?: Knowledge, Power and Environmental Destruction, Zed Books, London, 23–35.
Behn, M.: 1989, 'Something Wrong in the Himalaya', in Shiva (ed.), Staying Alive, Zed Books, London, pp. 68–70.
Duan Yonghou et al.: 1998, The Geological Hazards in China, China Architecture and Building Press, Beijing, pp. 1–35.
Guha, R.: 1993, 'The Malign Encounter: The Chipko Movement and Competing Visions of Nature', in Banuri and Marglin (eds), Who Will Save the Forests?, Zed Books, London, 80–113.
Gyurme Dorje: 1996, Tibet Handbook with Bhutan, Footprint Handbooks, Bath, pp. 2–31.
Hao Bing: 1998, 'Friends of Nature, China's First Environmental NGO', China Review Summer 1998, London, pp. 28–29.
Li, W.: 1993 Forests of the Himalayan-Hengduan Mountains of China and Strategies for their Sustainable Development, Kathmandu, pp. 6–11.
Ma Shijun and Chang Shuzhong: 1980, 'It is of immediate urgency to protect our environment an natural resources', Econom. Manage., 28–29.
Needham, J.: 1986, Science and Civilization in China, Vol. 6, Biology and Biological.
O'Kane, M.: 1998, 'A Bitter Cold', The Guardian, 12/2/1998, London.
Richardson, D.: 1990, Forests and Forestry in China: Changing Patterns of Resource Management, Island Press, Washington DC.
Schaller, G. B.: 1998a, A Wildlife Survey in Ganzi Prefecture. Western Sichuan, Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, pp. 4–19.
Schaller, G. B.: 1998b, Comments on the Hailuogou Reserve, (English and Chinese), Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, pp. 1-4.
Smil, V.: 1993, China's Environmental Crisis: An Inquiry into the Limits of National Development, Armonk Sharp Inc., NY, pp. 22-26.
f_studley/Bengda/Vignettes.htm
Wang Hongchang: (not dated), Deforestation and Desiccation in China: A Preliminary Study, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, pp. 34–37.
Winkler, D.: 1996, 'Forests, forest economy and deforestation in the Tibetan Prefectures of West Sichuan', Commonwealth Forest. Rev. 75(4), 296-301.
Yang, Y.: 1986, 'Importance of Ecological Balance in the Subalpine Forest of Western Sichuan, China', in J. H. Cooley (ed.), Ecology of the Development of Tropical and Subtropical Mountain Areas, International Association for Ecology, Intercol. Bull. 13, pp. 41–44.
Yang, Y.: 1987, 'Alpine forests in Western Sichuan, China and the effects of forest management', in T. Fujimori and M. Kimura (eds), Human Impacts and Management of Mountain Forests.
Zhang, P.: 1998, 'Sichuan's Forests: Another Socialist Disaster', The New Australian, No. 93, 26 October/1 November 1998.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, Y. Environmental Degradation and Environmental Threats in China. Environ Monit Assess 90, 161–169 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EMAS.0000003576.36834.c9
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EMAS.0000003576.36834.c9