Author(s): Yixin Cao; Karl Matthias Wantzen

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Abstract: In the Anthropocene epoch, rivers worldwide face unprecedented challenges. These not only threaten freshwater ecosystems but are also exacerbated by inconsistent river management across different regions. To achieve sustainable river management, it is imperative to adopt a holistic approach that takes into account the river's physical environment, the biodiversity of river-floodplain systems, and the human communities that rely on and interact with them. However, there's a disparity in knowledge and best practices, especially between Europe and China. In Europe, the European Union Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) set forth standards and objectives to achieve good conditions for all water bodies in EU member states. Meanwhile, China's river ecosystems have faced degradation due to the last four decades of rapid economic growth; and the river management scheme was highly fragmented. Our study offers a comparative assessment of river management strategies between France (as a European representative) and China. Our analysis delves deep into aspects such as legislative measures, water quality improvement and restoration efforts, dam removal, and overarching management structures. Specifically, we juxtapose France's watershed governance, refined since the 1960s, with China's top-down approach and the recent introduction of the River Chief System (RCS) in 2016.

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Year: 2024