EROSION ASSESSMENT AND ADMINISTRATION IN SUBTROPICAL CHINA - A CASE-STUDY FROM FUJIAN PROVINCE

Soil erosion continues to represent a major environmental issue in Chi na. This paper considers some of the practical difficulties of assessi ng the severity of soil erosion in subtropical southern China, with pa rticular reference to a case study in Fujian Province. The administrat ion of soil and water conservation and procedures for erosion evaluati on in an area of southern China are outlined. Although the hierarchy o f bodies involved in soil conversation is impressive compared to other countries in subtropical environments, little is known about the dyna mics of erosion, its impact on productivity or its contribution to sed iment yields.