Efforts, Experience in and Inspiration
of Environmental Protection in Rural
Areas Over 70 Years Since the Founding
of the People’s Republic of China
Yanqiang Du
“Grass grows vibrantly by the pool and birds sing happily on the willow tree.” The
verse vividly depicts a scene commonly seen in the beautiful and livable countryside. Rural areas assume multiple functions such as providing agricultural products,
offering ecological services and carrying forward folk customs. They are also the
places where people can enjoy the natural landscape and recall their love of nature. In
other words, the beautiful countryside is the source of quality agricultural products,
the backyard and garden of cities, and the spiritual home of people who are away
from their hometown.
In 1949, China’s agricultural output totaled RMB 32.6 billion, and its population was 546 million, around 90% of whom lived in rural areas. Grain yield was
113.18 million tons, or 208.9 kg per capita. In 2017, China’s agricultural output
reached RMB 11.46 trillion, and the population grew to 1.39 billion, 58.2% of
whom lived in urban areas. Grain yield went up to 617.93 million tons, or 445 kg per
capita. The amount of fertilizers used for farming grew from 78,000 tons in 1952 to
58.59 million tons in 2017. The amount of pesticides used increased from 73.3 tons
in 1990 to 178.3 tons in 2015. Such statistics show that China’s agricultural production expanded exponentially over the past 70 years, while overuse of pesticides and
fertilizers were also clearly seen. China is a major agricultural economy. Over 90%
of its territory is rural areas. Under the urban-rural dual structure, how should we
proceed with environmental protection in rural areas?
General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed efforts to improve rural living environment,
build a beautiful countryside and retain beautiful idyllic scenes for the people on many
occasions.
The CPC included rural revitalization in its national strategies at its 19th National
Congress. The Proposals of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on
Implementing Rural Revitalization Initiative (draft) released in January 2018 made
it clear that rural revitalization is a consensus and joint action of the whole Party.
Y. Du (B)
Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
© China Environment Publishing Group Co., Ltd. 2021
J. Pan et al. (eds.), Beautiful China: 70 Years Since 1949 and 70 People’s Views
on Eco-civilization Construction, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6742-5_10
115
of Environmental Protection in Rural
Areas Over 70 Years Since the Founding
of the People’s Republic of China
Yanqiang Du
“Grass grows vibrantly by the pool and birds sing happily on the willow tree.” The
verse vividly depicts a scene commonly seen in the beautiful and livable countryside. Rural areas assume multiple functions such as providing agricultural products,
offering ecological services and carrying forward folk customs. They are also the
places where people can enjoy the natural landscape and recall their love of nature. In
other words, the beautiful countryside is the source of quality agricultural products,
the backyard and garden of cities, and the spiritual home of people who are away
from their hometown.
In 1949, China’s agricultural output totaled RMB 32.6 billion, and its population was 546 million, around 90% of whom lived in rural areas. Grain yield was
113.18 million tons, or 208.9 kg per capita. In 2017, China’s agricultural output
reached RMB 11.46 trillion, and the population grew to 1.39 billion, 58.2% of
whom lived in urban areas. Grain yield went up to 617.93 million tons, or 445 kg per
capita. The amount of fertilizers used for farming grew from 78,000 tons in 1952 to
58.59 million tons in 2017. The amount of pesticides used increased from 73.3 tons
in 1990 to 178.3 tons in 2015. Such statistics show that China’s agricultural production expanded exponentially over the past 70 years, while overuse of pesticides and
fertilizers were also clearly seen. China is a major agricultural economy. Over 90%
of its territory is rural areas. Under the urban-rural dual structure, how should we
proceed with environmental protection in rural areas?
General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed efforts to improve rural living environment,
build a beautiful countryside and retain beautiful idyllic scenes for the people on many
occasions.
The CPC included rural revitalization in its national strategies at its 19th National
Congress. The Proposals of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on
Implementing Rural Revitalization Initiative (draft) released in January 2018 made
it clear that rural revitalization is a consensus and joint action of the whole Party.
Y. Du (B)
Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
© China Environment Publishing Group Co., Ltd. 2021
J. Pan et al. (eds.), Beautiful China: 70 Years Since 1949 and 70 People’s Views
on Eco-civilization Construction, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6742-5_10
115