Facing the challenge: barriers to sustainable water resources development in China

This paper addresses the water resources management problems in China. Cons idering the pressure of increasing population, present barriers to alleviat ion of floods, droughts and water environmental problems have been carefull y analysed from the Chinese practical background. The discussions involve w ater resources and problems in managing water supply and demand in China. D ue to very uneven distribution of precipitation in space and time, China fr equently suffers from floods and droughts. But the coincidence of the rainy season with the warm season is favourable to crop production and thus resu lts in high population density in the eastern part of China. In order to av ert disastrous consequences of hydrological extremes-floods and droughts no w and in the future-studying sustainable development of water resources in China is an imperative. Based on results of such studies, existing barriers to sustainable development of water resources have to be removed. A number of feasible measures adaptable to the specific conditions of China are pro posed. A step-by-step strategy is suggested to keep abreast of the changes of the objective circumstances, and to provide for public consensus.