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Y. Du
The UK was one of the first countries in the world to start urbanization. It was
also the country witnessing the earliest and largest population mobility from rural
areas to urban areas, as well as the fastest decline of rural population. The share
of agriculture fell sharply in its GDP. In 1801, the share was 32.5% and in 1901,
it was 6.1%. However, there was no drastic decrease in the share of agricultural
output after 1901. In 1951, the share was 4.7%. Up to 77% of the land in the UK
is in rural areas (the median of Europe is 40%). The country became aware of the
consequences of a declining countryside and rural underdevelopment early enough,
and took measures to reverse the trend. It integrated agricultural development and
rural environmental governance into urban development. With a radical approach, it
contained agricultural pollution at the source. It replaced labor force with capital to
support cultural and ecological protection in rural areas, and offered tax incentives
and government subsidies among other types of financial support to control point
and non-point pollution. In the meantime, the country improved its legal system for
agricultural pollution control. For example, the Control of Pollution Act criminalized
discharge of pollutants into water. The UK also values effective communication
between the government and the public and information transparency.
The United States was founded on agriculture. In 1787, the country had 90% of its
population working in agriculture. The urban population did not outnumber the rural
population until 1920. In the early twentieth century, population mobility facilitated
inclusive development of agriculture, but the environment was the cost. Farmland
diminished, heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers caused the hardening of the soil and
the loss of organic matter, and water pollution was serious. Across the country, 40% of
the total area of 47 major rivers, lakes and pools were contaminated. In response, the
government made laws and policies to protect the environment. For example, in 1936,
it introduced the first legislation on point and non-point source pollution control.
The country also widely applied advanced technologies in agriculture. Agricultural
mechanization, precise fertilizing and GPS among other efforts enabled the country
to reverse the trend of increasing environmental pollution. Every farmer can manage
at least 3000 mu of farmland. In general, the U.S. employed a systematic approach
to environmental protection in rural areas. It used various projects for the end and
comprehensively used technological and economic means to solve different kinds of
pollutions and meet the demands of various farms. It also solved problems relating to
technology adaptability and long-term mechanism. The country encouraged farmers
to use environmentally friendly technological alternatives of their own accord, and
also encouraged social organizations to contribute to environmental protection in
rural areas.
Japan began to experience hollowing of the countryside in the 1960s. The ripple
effect diminished agricultural population and pushed population aging in rural areas.
At that time, agricultural non-point source pollution was extremely serious, and
highly polluting industries including steel making and mining moved to rural areas
in clusters, causing pollutions to farmland, water sources and foods. To handle the
serious pollutions in rural areas, Japan introduced laws and regulations for rural
development on the whole. It also increased input in environmental improvement
and fostered environmental activist groups. Laws and regulations for environmental
Y. Du
The UK was one of the first countries in the world to start urbanization. It was
also the country witnessing the earliest and largest population mobility from rural
areas to urban areas, as well as the fastest decline of rural population. The share
of agriculture fell sharply in its GDP. In 1801, the share was 32.5% and in 1901,
it was 6.1%. However, there was no drastic decrease in the share of agricultural
output after 1901. In 1951, the share was 4.7%. Up to 77% of the land in the UK
is in rural areas (the median of Europe is 40%). The country became aware of the
consequences of a declining countryside and rural underdevelopment early enough,
and took measures to reverse the trend. It integrated agricultural development and
rural environmental governance into urban development. With a radical approach, it
contained agricultural pollution at the source. It replaced labor force with capital to
support cultural and ecological protection in rural areas, and offered tax incentives
and government subsidies among other types of financial support to control point
and non-point pollution. In the meantime, the country improved its legal system for
agricultural pollution control. For example, the Control of Pollution Act criminalized
discharge of pollutants into water. The UK also values effective communication
between the government and the public and information transparency.
The United States was founded on agriculture. In 1787, the country had 90% of its
population working in agriculture. The urban population did not outnumber the rural
population until 1920. In the early twentieth century, population mobility facilitated
inclusive development of agriculture, but the environment was the cost. Farmland
diminished, heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers caused the hardening of the soil and
the loss of organic matter, and water pollution was serious. Across the country, 40% of
the total area of 47 major rivers, lakes and pools were contaminated. In response, the
government made laws and policies to protect the environment. For example, in 1936,
it introduced the first legislation on point and non-point source pollution control.
The country also widely applied advanced technologies in agriculture. Agricultural
mechanization, precise fertilizing and GPS among other efforts enabled the country
to reverse the trend of increasing environmental pollution. Every farmer can manage
at least 3000 mu of farmland. In general, the U.S. employed a systematic approach
to environmental protection in rural areas. It used various projects for the end and
comprehensively used technological and economic means to solve different kinds of
pollutions and meet the demands of various farms. It also solved problems relating to
technology adaptability and long-term mechanism. The country encouraged farmers
to use environmentally friendly technological alternatives of their own accord, and
also encouraged social organizations to contribute to environmental protection in
rural areas.
Japan began to experience hollowing of the countryside in the 1960s. The ripple
effect diminished agricultural population and pushed population aging in rural areas.
At that time, agricultural non-point source pollution was extremely serious, and
highly polluting industries including steel making and mining moved to rural areas
in clusters, causing pollutions to farmland, water sources and foods. To handle the
serious pollutions in rural areas, Japan introduced laws and regulations for rural
development on the whole. It also increased input in environmental improvement
and fostered environmental activist groups. Laws and regulations for environmental