Project Innovations and Knowledge Dissemination

Project Number: 53050-001 December 2020

People’s Republic of : Xiangxi Rural Environmental Improvement and Green

Development Project

I. PROJECT INNOVATIONS

A. Research and Knowledge-Driven Approach to Conservation, Marketing, and Rural Economies

1. The project design includes ambitious research and development programs to accompany major components of the projects in support of sustainable and inclusive development. The Xiangxi Tujia and Miao (Xiangxi) of Hunan Province is rich in natural resources, featured ecological agricultural products, biodiversity, and ethnic minority cultural diversity, most of which is scientifically little known for their significance and delicate balance between conservation and uses. The Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefectural Government fully appreciate the value of research and development for simultaneously protecting and generating economic values of these natural and cultural resources. Preparation of the project involved a robust analytical and consultative approach towards integrated solutions. The proposed research and knowledge components cover all main aspects of the project, including construction and setting up of three research centers and four visitor and/or education centers and museums, and establishment of four research and collaboration programs. Table 1 provides an overview of the proposed research and knowledge components in the project.

Table 1. Research and Knowledge Center, and Research Collaboration Components of the Project Name Function Features Wuling Mountain Area Research, conservation, Rare and valuable tree species and Precious Germplasm development, and marketing medicinal plants conservation bases (320 Resources of precious germplasm hectares [ha] and 50 ha, respectively), Conservation Center resources breeding area of tree species (15 ha), conservation and breeding research system of rare and valuable seedlings. Xiangxi Prefectural Research, introduction, Construction of research center (1,005 Kiwifruit and Citrus screening, breeding, and square meters [m2]), introduction and Seedlings Research production of virus-free screening of high-quality kiwifruit and citrus and Breeding Base kiwifruit seedlings and high- species, species parent garden (9 ha), quality citrus seedlings. seedling culture sheds (6,500 m2), integrated irrigation and fertilization system. Research, breeding, culture, Construction of research center (1,091 m2), Lvdongshan Gold Tea and production of high-quality seedling culture nursery (0.33 ha), seedling research and Gold tea seedlings. culture sheds (1 ha), old tea tree protection development center (2,057 plants). County Demonstration, conservation, Construction of performance center for the Shanjiang art center and education of the Miao Miao ethnic minority culture and custom and museum of the ethnic minority art and custom (6,099 m2); museum of the Miao history, Miao history and and exhibition of the Miao culture, and art (2,385 m2); collection and culture ethnic minority history and exhibition of Miao historic and cultural culture heritage and products. Integrated exhibition, Construction of integrated exhibition, Banyue Lake Tujia conservation, education, and education, and sale center for the Tujia ethnic minority cultural sale of the Tujia ethnic ethnic minority cultural products (1,080 m2), products exhibition minority cultural products. such as handicrafts and special agricultural and sale center and forestry products, etc. Zixia Demonstration, conservation, Construction of performance center for the Lake Miao ethnic and education of Miao ethnic Miao ethnic minority culture and art (4,915 minority culture and art.

Name Function Features minority culture m2), including exhibition of the Miao ethnic exhibition center minority cultural products. Demonstration, conservation, Construction of performance center for Tujia Sicheng Village Tujia and education of the Tujia ethnic minority intangible culture and art intangible culture ethnic minority intangible (1210 m2), including exhibition of Tujia display center culture and art. ethnic minority cultural products. Agricultural field Monitor local weather 11 field weather stations will be established weather stations conditions for agriculture in Huayuan County Zixia Lake area to production and early warning monitor the field weather conditions for featured ecological agricultural production and early warning of extreme weather events and pests, etc. All the stations will be powered by solar energy systems. Research on Integration of agriculture, Institute and/or university will be recruited to problems and manufacturing, and services conduct the research on problems and countermeasures of industries: Research, countermeasures of integrated development integrated knowledge production, of rural primary, secondary, and tertiary development of collaboration, and capacity industries. Results from the research will be primary, secondary, building. used to enhance the effectiveness of the and tertiary industries project and share with other areas inside and outside Hunan Province. Research on strategy Achieving sustainable rural Institute and/or university will be recruited to of rural vitalization in vitalization: Research, conduct research on strategy of rural concentrated poor knowledge production, vitalization in concentrated poor ethnic ethnic minority areas collaboration, and capacity minority areas. Results from the research building. will be used to improve the effectiveness of the project and share with other areas inside and outside Hunan Province. Research on green Developing green agriculture: The Xiangxi Prefectural Agriculture and prevention and control Research, knowledge Rural Bureau will organize specialists to of diseases and pests production, collaboration, and conduct the research on developing new and quality capacity building. technologies and methodologies for improvement of prevention and control of crop disease and featured agricultural pests, so as to reduce the use of chemicals product and improve the quality of featured ecological agricultural products. Results from the research will be used to improve the effectiveness of the project and share with other areas inside and outside Hunan Province Breeding and Featured kiwifruit seedlings: The Xiangxi Prefectural Citrus Research extension of virus-free Research, knowledge Institute will conduct the research through kiwifruit species and production, collaboration, and introduction, screening, and breeding to seedlings capacity building. produce virus-free high-quality kiwifruit seedlings for extension in Xiangxi, which will improve the productivity and product quality of kiwifruit in Xiangxi.

2. These research and knowledge facilities are strongly market oriented with the aim to promote economic opportunities with improved know-how and products. The Wuling Mountain Area Valuable Germplasm Resources Conservation Center is such an example to integrate conservation of valuable germplasm resources with economic activities through collection,

breeding, conservation and commercialized production of valuable tree and medicinal plant species. The center is also suited for training, tourist sightseeing and learning.

B. Landscape Approach to Climate-Resilient Rural Living Environment

3. Xiangxi is in the Wuling mountainous region with around 70% covered by dense forests. Restoring and protecting the unique Wuling biosphere as resilient living environment is profoundly important for the wellbeing of people and nature. A landscape approach is adopted for protecting the natural resources, ecological integrity, managing rural wastewater and solid waste, and restoring rural environment.

a) Forest rehabilitation and low-quality forest improvement by replanting diversified local species adopting an interval alternate planting structure. The new structure will also have improved ability to absorb carbon and enhance greenhouse gas sequestration.

b) The project will demonstrate an innovative methodology for construction of ecological corridor in the two main traffic channels along the Luxi–Joshou–Fenghuang and – Huayuan– highways in Xiangxi. The key element is the renovation of forest stand with soil and water conservation, landscaping, and valuable tree species in suitable areas. This will have demonstrative effect in Hunan Province where is a pioneering area of the country in corridor greening

c) Erosion control, landslide prevention, and flood protection by reinforcing and protecting slopes, flood, and drainage infrastructure, including protection of construction sites in flood pro areas.

d) Prefecture-wide inclusive sanitation is carefully analyzed and mountainous rural areas, including towns and villages are targeted for their relative lack of coverage. Distributed small-scale wastewater and solid waste management facilities are customized in rural areas with complicated geographic conditions and scattered households, including 1,730 four-pool sewage purification systems for single household and 402 various sizes of decentralized wastewater treatment facilities (from 5 cubic meters [m3] to 200 m3 each) for group of households. They will direct benefit 66,658 population in 20 villages of nine townships in seven project counties.

e) The project will install 402 sets of solar energy systems for decentralized sewage treatment facilities, which will reduce the operating costs and reduce the emission of greenhouse gas.

Table 2. Specification of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Facilities Facilities Specification Applied Single household 4-tank purification system <5 m³ ≤4 HHs Type A (5 m³) 4< A ≤15 HHs Type B (10 m³) 15< B ≤30 HHs Type C (15 m³) 30< C ≤45 HHs Type D (20 m³) 45< D ≤60 HHs Decentralized wastewater treatment facilities Type E (30 m³) 60< E ≤150 HHs Type F (50 m³) 90< F ≤150 HHs Type G (100 m³) 150< G ≤300 HHs Type H (200 m³) 300< H ≤600 HHs HH = household m3 = cubic meter.

f) Agricultural nonpoint source pollution is controlled through a set of interventions, including soil fertility testing, solar insect killers, integrated irrigation, and fertigation to reduce fertilizer uses.

g) Aquatic ecosystem restoration and protection, including source area and water quality protection of the Qifeng Lake and the Dongfeng Lake; and rebuilding the Banyue Lake (a dead waterbody) water linkage. New technologies will be applied using biological isolation networks and natural vegetation purification.

C. Climate-Smart Agriculture

4. The impacts of climate change and adaption measures were carefully considered in the project design for individual components. Climate-smart agriculture involves whole agricultural production and value chain systems as well as specific technological innovations:

a) Development, conservation, and supply of high-quality seedlings of featured ecological agricultural products (such as tea, kiwifruit, citrus, camellia, and medicinal herbs) through introduction, screening and breeding of good-performance species,

(including the Xiangxi Prefectural kiwifruit and citrus seedlings research and breeding base, Baojing County Lvdongshan Gold tea research and development center, Huayuan County Zixia Lake area local special-featured agricultural base, and the Wuling Moutain area precious germplasm resources reservation base). b) Upscaling featured agricultural products for green commercial production in the mountainous sloppy agricultural fields through techniques such as flexible terracing, inter-cropping, access roads, field weather stations, and green prevention and control of diseases and pests (including the Baojing County Lvdongshan Gold tea industrial park and Huayuan County Zixia Lake area local special-featured agricultural base).

c) Integrated agricultural demonstration parks for harvesting, sorting and packaging, processing, logistic cold storages, exhibition, and trading (including the Baojing County Lvdongshan Gold tea industrial park, local-featured agricultural products logistics cold chain base, Yongshun County local-featured agricultural products logistics and cold chain base, Jishou City local-featured agricultural products production and processing base, and Luxi County Xinnv agricultural products trading center). d) Water-saving techniques and integrated fertigation. Smart irrigation system will be deployed for several agricultural integration parks which automate irrigation applications with high precision and efficiencies.

e) Rain runoff interception on slopping lands. Drainage ditches will be constructed along ridges to help intercept rainfall runoff for flood control. f) Resources reuse and recovery. The upgrading of Huayuan County Zixia Lake area featured agricultural base subproject will demonstrate ecological circular agricultural economy through processing crop residuals into feeds for livestock development. Livestock manure is processed into organic fertilizers for farming in an existing organic fertilizer production factory. Such reuses will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

D. Enhancing Agricultural Value Chain through Integration with Manufacturing, Cultural Conservation, and Ecotourism Industries

5. Xiangxi received more than 51 million tourists in 2018 to its beautiful natural and cultural attractions, which also presents a unique marketing opportunity for its featured ecological agricultural products. The project will demonstrate the improvement of agricultural value chain through industrial integration with value additions. Agricultural production, processing, quality control, branding, and marketing are all integrated into the project design, targeting on the tourists, as well as internet marketplaces.

a) Improving the Miao and Tujia ethnic minority cultural conservations and promoting cultural diversity in ecotourism development. These include four ethnic cultural centers and/or museums ( Shanjiang art center and museum of the Miao history and culture, Longshan County Banyue Lake Tujia ethnic minority cultural products exhibition and sale center, Huayuan County Zixia Lake Miao ethnic minority culture exhibition center, and Yongshun County Sicheng Village Tujia intangible culture display center), old tea trees protection in Lvdongshan Town, and the Miao and Tujia ethnic group handicraft center in Shanjiang Village of Fenghuang County.

b) Integrating farming, rural living, and sales of featured ecological agricultural products with ecotourism. These include farming gardens for sightseeing, fruit picking, and renovated traditional villages for guest accommodations, exhibition, and sales offices at tourists’ spots.

c) Improvement of local-featured agro-products processing facilities and techniques to add values. This includes improved tea processing at Lvdongshan Town of Baojing County; kiwifruit and citrus processing at Guyang Town of Guzhang County; kiwifruit, citrus and Xiangxi black pig processing at Furong Town of Yongshun County; and vegetables, and mushroom and medicinal herb processing at Quanzhou economic development zone of Jishou City.

d) Cold chain development. The project will construct four cold storage facilities with state of art technologies on energy saving and functionality. Storages facilities for black swine, tea, kiwifruit, citrus, melon, blueberry and vegetables at Guyang Town of Guzhang County; kiwifruit, citrus, Xiangxi black swine and cattle at Furong Town of

Yongshun County; vegetables, tea, melon and fruit, medicinal plant, and mushroom at Quanzhou economic development zone of Jishou City; and citrus, swine, chili, Waxiang rice, camellia oleifera oil, ginger, and grape at Town of Luxi County.

e) Local trading centers and markets serving residents and tourists are to be developed in Town and Sicheng Village of Yongshun County, Lvdongshan Town of Baojing County, Shanjiang Village of Fenghuang County, and Wuxi Town of Luxi County.

f) Quality testing and control facilities will be set up at production and trading venues. These testing facilities will be used to ensure food safety, promote healthy and nutrient diets through informed choices, and guide the production and processing facilities for continued improvement.

g) Branding and quality certification and traceability system for featured ecological agricultural products. The project supports the branding initiatives by the Xiangxi Government to promote the featured ecological agricultural products. Design and marketing campaigns will be supported by the project. As part of the branding initiatives, blockchain data and traceability system will be developed to certify quality products for national markets at three subprojects (Guzhang County Local-Featured Agricultural Products Logistics Cold Chain, Yongshun County Local-Featured Agricultural Products Logistics and Cold Chain Base, and Jishou City Local-Featured Agricultural Products Production and Processing Base).

h) Internet agriculture will be actively promoted based on improved production, quality control, quality testing, and traceability system. The project will adopt the country’s well-developed e-commerce systems and platforms and build up operations capacity to inform farmers of the market demand and promote the local-featured ecological agricultural products to customers all over the country.

II. KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION

6. The knowledge generated from this project will provide a solution to sustainable agricultural and rural development in developing member country context. Knowledge and experiences gained on research and development in rural development, landscape approach to climate-resilient rural environment management, climate-resilient agriculture, and

agricultural value chain integration with cultural conservation and ecotourism development, will be valuable for achieving rural revitalization and sustainable development in the River Economic Belt, the People’s Republic of China, and broader Asia and the Pacific.

7. The project knowledge management strategy is drawn on the experiences of previous and ongoing Asian Development Bank and other foreign-funded projects in the People’s Republic of China and refined for further development. As is described in this document, a strong research and development program on a range of environment, agricultural and market issues have been built into various components of the projects. In addition, four independent research and collaboration packages are separately designed to help explore, synthesize, and document knowledge and experiences. Consultation services and regular exchanges will also help the project to adopt best practices; and in turn, disseminate own experiences to broader development of communities.