Rivers and Wetlands

Shaanxi Province adopted solid measures to strengthen the protection of ecological environment in the Yellow River basin and promote high-quality development. In line with the national"Overall Plan", the plan for Shaanxi Province has been worked out for strict implementation of the overall standards for waste water discharge, and for taking tough hands in setting alarm line for pollution in water function zones.

In 2021, ten actions for ecological spatial governance in the Yellow River basin continued to be carried out. The coarse sediment detention project of the Yellow River has been fully launched, and the clearing of four illegal and excess use of rivers and lakes has been solidly promoted. 105 problem sewage outlets in the main streams have been renovated, and the water quality of the section into the Yellow River of the Weihe River has been excellent for two consecutive years. The water quality at the exit sections of Hanjiang River and Danjiang River has remained at Class II. The special rectification of pyrite pollution in southern Shaanxi has been carried out in depth, and the water source in the middle route of South-to-North Water Transfer remains safe and stable.

As the biggest branch of the Yellow River, the Weihe River winds its way eastward through Shaanxi. From 2012, Shaanxi has gradually reached the goal of making the water in the Weihe River clean again. The trans-provincial water of the Weihe River reaches high quality. Weihe River Ecological Corridor has become a leisure and relaxation resort for nearby residents.

Southern Shaanxi is an important water source for the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, accounting for over 70% of water transferred to China's North. In order to ensure long-term high standard water quality of water source for the middle route of the Project, Shaanxi has protected the water source areas with meticulous care, and has carried out a large-scale ecological protection and control project of soil and water conservation. The comprehensive improvement of Hanjiang River and Danjiang River has been launched successively, and the integrated construction projects of ecological environment control,water resources allocation and flood control facilities have been implemented along the rivers, so as to solve the problems of frequent flood and waterlogging, serious soil erosion and water ecological deterioration. The ecological restoration project of the water source has been enhanced, with the function of water conservation significantly improved. The goal of "supplying Beijing and Tianjin with clean water" has been achieved.

Shaanxi boasts diversified biological resources in wetlands, especially waterfowl with various species, in large numbers, and at high protection levels. There are a total of 121 species of wetland birds belonging to nine orders and 24 families in Shaanxi, of which 7 species are under national first-class protection, 12 under national second-class protection, and 19 under provincial level protection. One specie of wild plants is under national second-class protection, and two species are under provincial key protection.

At present, Shaanxi has established 9 wetland natural reserves at various levels and 43 national wetland parks (pilots), of which 26 have passed the national inspection. A natural reserve classification system has been preliminarily formed with national parks as the main body, natural reserves as the foundation, and natural parks of various types as supplementary.