Group Training Series China: Soil & Water Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration

To develop an integrated multi‑disciplinary programme on Soil & Water Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration.

Professionals with different professional backgrounds (hydrologists, land and water development engineers, experts in hydroinformatics, and water and environmental resources managers) will be strengthened with a solid in‑depth training in their fields of specialisation.

They will at the same time work together in an inter‑disciplinary environment to develop strategies for an integrated approach to the management of combating land degradation.

The programme is problem-oriented and tailor-made, taking into account considerations of the special characteristics of soil erosion and ecosystem deterioration in China.

Furthermore, modern systems of an integrated approach on Soil & Water conservation, and the restoration and preservation of (existing) ecosystems will be developed and tested in some affected regions in China.

China is facing the worst soil erosion problem in the world. The area suffering with soil erosion totals 37 percent of the whole territory of China. Soil erosion occurs mostly in West China, which is the source area of the Yellow and Yangze Rivers. Basic factors affecting soil erosion are precipitation, wind, topography and soil properties.

Particular topography, climate conditions, agricultural and economic activities have accelerated the soil erosion process in West China. Increasing pressure on the land as a result of rising population tempts cultivation of marginal or unsuitable lands.

Deforestation, cultivation of hill slopes and overgrasing induce soil erosion. Overexploitation of water resources for irrigation leaves few or no water for the ecosystem. Land salinisation and desertification worsens the erosion problem.

Soil erosion also deteriorates the ecological environment. It has direct negative effects on the productivity of the land by loss of nutrients, water and soil. This loss of productivity directly affects the farmer's income, because more inputs are necessary to counteract these processes and to maintain long-term food production. About 90% of the China's poor lives in the area with serious soil erosion.

Group Training Series- In recent years IHE has gained considerable experience in providing a series of interdisciplinary group training programmes to professionals from the Ministry of Water Resources in China.

The general approach involves professionals from different disciplines enrolled in regular Masters Programmes at IHE. After a period of 6 to 9 months, the group participates in the integrated part of the programme, specifically developed for their case, and allowing the knowledge obtained by these individuals to be integrated with the regular programmes.

Group training programmes usually include a series of specialised lectures and a case study, group work) that allows an interdisciplinary approach of the problem under consideration.

Group Training Programmes- The group training programme consists of two components, one for respectively 15 young professionals and another one for 20 decision-makers from the MWR, China PR:

The group training on soil & water conservation and ecosystem restoration for 15 young professionals lasts one year and compromises:

• Basic Programme (7 months) in Hydrology & Water Resources, Land & Water Development, Hydroinformatics and Water Resources Management.
• Specialisation Programme in soil and water conservation (3.5 months), including an integrated case study for a subcatchment of the Yellow River.
• Individual Study (1.5 months) on a specific soil erosion problem and for a specific physical situation within a river basin in China.

The senior advanced short course for decision-makers has a duration of 3 weeks and compromises:

• New Developments in Soil & Water Conservation (5 days).
• European Excursion on Soil Erosion Control (9 days).
• Discussion Forum with junior professionals focused on strategy and polices for Soil & Water Conservation in China (7 days).