Project Innovations and Knowledge Dissemination Project Number: 53050-001 December 2020 People’s Republic of China: Hunan 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 Autonomous Prefecture (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. Baojing County 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). Fenghuang 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. Longshan County 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. Huayuan County 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. Yongshun County 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 Jishou– Huayuan–Zhangjiajie 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