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Second, government investment and public participation should be balanced. A
good environment is a typical public good. Governments at various levels, particularly township Party committees and governments, should take the lead. However,
this does not mean that the governmental should take all responsibilities or that social
forces and local residents should be excluded from decision-making, project funding,
operation and maintenance. More specifically, considerations should be given to both
infrastructure construction and follow-up capability building for operating and maintaining the projects through appropriate methods and rational investment. Codes of
conduct should be improved amid efforts to promote self-education and awareness
raising among farmers in regard to environmental protection. On this basis, efforts
should be made to encourage basic-level Party organizations, capable brains and
investors to make their contribution. Farmers’ wills should be respected, and communities should play their due role in resource allocation. Capable brains in farming and
organic agricultural production are to offer their opinions on prioritizing pollution
control.
Third, both facility construction and long-term maintenance should be highlighted. This is key to successful pollution control in rural areas. Targeting the
problem of the lack of maintenance after environmental protection facilities are
put in place, long-term mechanisms should be created. Specifically, based on financial capabilities of the village and villagers’ willingness, an appropriate method for
funding, operating and maintaining the projects should be determined. For example,
the cost of pollution can be assumed by all stakeholders, which include the central
government, the local government, the village and residents. Suitable work plans and
technical patterns should be determined based on local geographical conditions, traditions, economic conditions and farmers’ expectations. Due considerations should be
given to rural landscape protection and pollution control. Projects should never be
built only for vanity or a good result in government performance evaluation. It is
inappropriate to simply copy the approach used in urban environmental protection
when it comes to environmental governance in rural areas. Bad choices may include
building man-made wetlands and planting trees by rivers and lakes to help treat
domestic wastewater. Kitchen waste and compostable wastes can be recycled into
compost. More affordable and easy-to-learn ways can be proposed to ensure the
long-term operation of environmental protection facilities.
Fourth, both end-of-the-pipe pollution and pollution at the source should be sufficiently treated. In governing the environment in rural areas, the big picture of agricultural and rural development should be considered. To fundamentally improve rural
environment, efforts should be made to advance agricultural mechanization, improve
people’s sanitation habits, and improve public facilities and services at the township
and village levels. End-of-the-pipe pollution treatment with suitable technologies
and projects for pollution control at the sources in production and everyday life
scenarios should be combined. Specifically, support should be offered to translate
the ecological advantages of rural areas into strengths in economic development and
form a mutually beneficial pattern for the environment and the economy. Measures
for this purpose include using local special industries and agro-tourism among other
strengths to improve infrastructure for environmental protection in rural areas. In
Y. Du
Second, government investment and public participation should be balanced. A
good environment is a typical public good. Governments at various levels, particularly township Party committees and governments, should take the lead. However,
this does not mean that the governmental should take all responsibilities or that social
forces and local residents should be excluded from decision-making, project funding,
operation and maintenance. More specifically, considerations should be given to both
infrastructure construction and follow-up capability building for operating and maintaining the projects through appropriate methods and rational investment. Codes of
conduct should be improved amid efforts to promote self-education and awareness
raising among farmers in regard to environmental protection. On this basis, efforts
should be made to encourage basic-level Party organizations, capable brains and
investors to make their contribution. Farmers’ wills should be respected, and communities should play their due role in resource allocation. Capable brains in farming and
organic agricultural production are to offer their opinions on prioritizing pollution
control.
Third, both facility construction and long-term maintenance should be highlighted. This is key to successful pollution control in rural areas. Targeting the
problem of the lack of maintenance after environmental protection facilities are
put in place, long-term mechanisms should be created. Specifically, based on financial capabilities of the village and villagers’ willingness, an appropriate method for
funding, operating and maintaining the projects should be determined. For example,
the cost of pollution can be assumed by all stakeholders, which include the central
government, the local government, the village and residents. Suitable work plans and
technical patterns should be determined based on local geographical conditions, traditions, economic conditions and farmers’ expectations. Due considerations should be
given to rural landscape protection and pollution control. Projects should never be
built only for vanity or a good result in government performance evaluation. It is
inappropriate to simply copy the approach used in urban environmental protection
when it comes to environmental governance in rural areas. Bad choices may include
building man-made wetlands and planting trees by rivers and lakes to help treat
domestic wastewater. Kitchen waste and compostable wastes can be recycled into
compost. More affordable and easy-to-learn ways can be proposed to ensure the
long-term operation of environmental protection facilities.
Fourth, both end-of-the-pipe pollution and pollution at the source should be sufficiently treated. In governing the environment in rural areas, the big picture of agricultural and rural development should be considered. To fundamentally improve rural
environment, efforts should be made to advance agricultural mechanization, improve
people’s sanitation habits, and improve public facilities and services at the township
and village levels. End-of-the-pipe pollution treatment with suitable technologies
and projects for pollution control at the sources in production and everyday life
scenarios should be combined. Specifically, support should be offered to translate
the ecological advantages of rural areas into strengths in economic development and
form a mutually beneficial pattern for the environment and the economy. Measures
for this purpose include using local special industries and agro-tourism among other
strengths to improve infrastructure for environmental protection in rural areas. In