(CFP Photo) 

Jiangsu gears up to play an important role in protecting the Yangtze River while pursuing a high-quality development as a new law takes effect on March 1.

The Yangtze River Conservation Law, passed at a Standing Committee session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature in last December, is China's first legislation on a specific river basin.

Over 100 Jiangsu deputies of the NPC contributed their wisdom to the law-making. Also over the past five years, Jiangsu has taken a leading role in adopting the new growth model that gives priorities to ecology and sustainability. Now the new law is expected to provide a strong legal support to the province’s green growth.

(CFP Photo) 

Stretching over 6,300 km, the river boasts rich biodiversity and mineral and water resources in its basin. The Jiangsu section of the river runs for over 400 kilometers and provides 80% of the province’s water need for production and living. In addition, areas along the river are home to about 60% of Jiangsu’s population, 70% of the investment, 80% of economy and 90% of foreign trade.

The conversation law is formulated to strengthen the protection and restoration of the ecological environment in the Yangtze River basin, facilitate the effective and rational use of resources, safeguard ecological security, ensure harmony between human and nature and achieve sustainable development. As a result, it’s also regarded as a law to underpin the green development drive.

The law includes targeted, innovative and professional measures that will bring Jiangsu’s protection of aquatic life to a new height. Article 41 stipulates that China will establish the index of biological integrity and an evaluation system for the river basin and assess the overall condition of the ecosystem.