Securing Water for Wetland Conservation in China - An Assessment of Policy Options

Wetlands are one of the world's most ecologically important and productive ecosystems. They face many challenges, one of the most sifnificant being the disruption of the water supplies that feed them. As the flow of water entering a wetland is diverted to other uses, the werland's ecosystme is damaged. This problem affects many wetland areas in China. This study assesses the situation in the Qixinghe Wetlands which lie in the country's Sanjiang Plain. The study hifhlights two policy options that could help improve the water supply to this important wetland area and suggests how these policies could be supported by improvements in funding and institutional support.