Soil monitoring and conservation in China: progress and innovations

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According to China's Ministry of Water Resources, the monitoring of soil and water loss showed a reduction of about 26,000 square kilometres of land subject to erosion. By the end of the year, erosion affected more than 2.6 million square kilometres, but the adoption of containment measures, especially in the most vulnerable areas, resulted in a reduction in the percentage of areas with moderate or severe erosion by 0.28 percentage points, to 34.26% of the total.

Among the areas that recorded the most significant progress is the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, which saw a 2.48% reduction in affected areas, more than 2.5 times higher than the national average. This result is the result of more effective management of water resources and policies aimed at soil conservation. At the same time, prevention measures implemented in the basins of China's seven major rivers, including the Yangtze and Yellow River, contributed to over 73% of the total reduction in eroded areas, confirming the key role of river areas in counteracting the degradation of soil.

A decisive aspect in the fight against soil erosion has been the adoption of innovative monitoring tools. Technologies such as satellite remote sensing and internet-based systems have enabled the early identification of illegal activities responsible for soil loss. Improvements in the accuracy of these methodologies have led to a significant decrease in soil erosion in areas compromised by human activity, reducing the incidence to 46.65%, down 31 percentage points from 2019.

An important innovation in the financing of conservation efforts concerns carbon reservoirs. In 2023, China realised its first transaction of a carbon reservoir in the Luodi River Basin, with the sale of 100,000 tonnes of carbon for 1.8 million yuan. This scheme offers an alternative funding opportunity to traditional government resources, incentivising private investment in soil conservation. According to Chen Xian, an official of the Fujian Department of Water Resources, this approach is in line with the Chinese philosophy that sees environmental protection as a valuable economic resource. Through this mechanism, individuals and companies can actively contribute to land conservation, promoting sustainable management of natural resources.

China, through careful monitoring, the use of advanced technologies and new economic models, is playing a decisive role in the fight against soil erosion. With more effective resource management and a sustainability-based approach, the country is creating a role model for other nations grappling with the same problem. The future of soil conservation depends on the evolution of these strategies, which will continue to develop through innovation and cooperation between the public and private sectors.

This article has been realised within the project "Biodiversity services EU expansion" (CUP: E43D22000480009) in the framework of the Lombardy Region's call for tenders "PR FESR 2021-2027 - LINEA INTERNAZIONALIZZAZIONE 21-27", aimed at supporting the internationalisation of Italian companies. 3Bee is the naturetech company that develops innovative technologies for monitoring, protecting and regenerating biodiversity, supporting companies in defining customised climate strategies based on the analysis of their impacts and dependencies on nature. With an established portfolio in Italy, Germany and France and prominent partnerships, 3Bee continues its expansion into international markets to create real impact through technology.