Theme 4-3-Environmentally sound management of lake Erhai and the Xier river basin

Abstract

Lake Erhai is a freshwater lake nestled like a pearl on a plateau in the central part of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, People’s Republic of China. The Lake has a surface area of 250 km2, average depth of 10.2 m, and a capacity of 2.93 billion m3. Its drainage area includes parts of Eryuan County including the City of Dali. Despite the numerous brooks and streams draining into Lake Erhai from the Cangshan Mountains, the Lake has only one outlet, the Xier River, which flows into the Lancangjiang River and, ultimately, into the Mekong drainage system. Lake Erhai is famous for its beautiful scenery and has a long history associated with the distinctive culture of the people of Bai nationality. The steep, snow-covered Cangshan Mountains and the clean blue waters of the Lake, reflecting the 2,200 meter mountain peaks and forming the habitats for various plants and wildlife, form a very beautiful picture and people can hardly tear themselves away from its beauty.

A number of environmental problems have emerged from the economic development of the area causing important environmental impacts in the lake and the basin. However, because of the great importance attached to the environment of the drainage area of Lake Erhai, China have joined together with international institutions to protect and restore this freshwater body.

This paper is the integrated result of the investigations, analyses, and syntheses carried out in the area by relevant departments of the Country, in cooperation with UNEP-IETC and other agencies. It reports on the outcome of the environmental planning program carried out under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the success of pilot-scale projects for the development of environmental infrastructure conducted under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China.

For administrative reasons, recommendations given in this report regarding environmental management within the study area are made at the Prefectural level. Such recommendations, therefore, are wider in scope than the Lake Erhai and Xi’er River system. However, as many of the recommendations also apply to the Lancangjiang River drainage basin and the Mekong River, this level is considered appropriate to meeting the objectives of the project.