The Ecological Planning and Practice of Bijie Experimental Area

Rupei Qin School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology e-mail: [email protected]

Hang Zhang School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology e-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT The rural ecological environment is an important condition for the development of the rural area, agriculture and peasants. Especially in the poor karst mountainous areas in Western China, a good ecological planning is particularly important. The paper analyses the resources, environment, population problems that Bijie experimental area faced 20 years ago.Then we put forward the scheme of regional ecological planning and analyses the results of planning practice. KEYWORDS: Ecological planning; Bijie test area; complex ecosystem; three themes;

INTRODUCTION Ecological construction planning is a regional development planning approach which use ecological principles to evaluate, plan and coordinate the relationship between human and the development, utilization and transformation of natural resources comprehensively and long-term, to improve the efficiency of ecological and economic and to promote sustainable development of social and economic. Its essence is to recognize systematically and to re-arrange the relationship between people and their environment which is a "Social - Economic - Nature" complex ecosystem planning[1, 2]. Despite the ecological planning started late in China, it draws the new achievements of modern ecology when it started, and it combined with our region, especially combined with the development of urban and rural, environmental issues and sustainable development theme and gradually formed its own characteristics, it has reached the international advanced level in some respects[1]. Ma Shijun and Wang Rusong proposed complex ecosystem theory in 1984, they considered that urban and rural where the main body is human activity actually are three sub- systems which combined with social, economic and natural, the three sub-systems put human activity as the link and form a mutual-role and constrained complex ecosystems[3, 4]; In 1988, Wang Rusong proposed to create the ecological principle of ecological city in "efficient and harmonious - urban ecological regulation principles and methods", emphasized that the urban ecological planning should be ecological balance which can achieve the ecosystem and an

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Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. C 678 ecological planning approach which can regulate the relationship between people and the environment[3]. Huang Guangyu and Chen Yong made a number of ecological theories and practices about ecological planning and the establishment of ecological city through the case study of and other cities[5, 6]. In 1998, Shen Qingji of Tongji University proposed more systematic and comprehensive exposition about urban ecological planning and construction in the "Urban Ecology and Environment"[7]. In 2000, Wang Xiangrong considered ecological planning should put ecological principles and the principles of urban planning as a guide to explore the improvement of relationship between people and environment in book "Ecology and Environment"[8].Corresponding ecological city planning or urban ecological construction practice has Yichun, Zhangjiagang, Yangzhou, Rizhao, Chongming Island, Xiangfan, Maanshan, Siping, , Shiyan and other places[1]. This paper is based on ecological planning which the above-mentioned previous did, put "social - economic - Nature" complex ecosystem perspective as the theoretical background, this paper analyzed the problems of resources, environment and population which Bijie Experimental Area faced more than 20 years ago from three aspects: economy, nature and society. Putting "exploitation alleviate poverty, ecological construction, population control" as three main themes, which targeted propose the regional ecological construction planning, and analyzed the results of planning practice. GENERAL SITUATION AND THE BACKGROUND OF ECOLOGICAL PLANNING OF BIJIE EXPERIMENTAL AREA

The general situation of Bijie experimental area Bijie area is located in the northwest of province in our country. Province is to the west of Bijie area and Province is north to west of Bijie area.It is between 105.36 east longitude to 106.43 east longitude and 26.21 north latitude to 27.47 north latitude.There are Bijie, Qianxi, Zhijin, generous, Jinsha, Nayong, Weining, Hezhang other 8 counties (City), 250 townships (towns, offices), 4507 administrative villages, the land area of 26853 square kilometers under its jurisdiction The territory inhabited by the Han, Yi, Miao, Buyi, Hui and other 35 ethnic groups, ethnic minority population accounts for 26.63% of the total population. Bijie test area is located in the east of Guizhou Plateau to the transition of the original mountain ridge area.The territory has high mountains and steep slope, deep valleys.It has a 2443 meters relative elevation , carbonate rocks forming clouds and it is a typical karst mountain area. Before the establishment of Experimental Zone, This region is characterized by high mountains and steep, land fragmentation, sparse vegetation, bare rock, deep valleys, backward economic, poor people, worse ecology, overpopulation, and set "old", "little", "edge", "poor "" karst "as a whole, it is the most typical karst mountainous alpine area. Three contradictions that is economic poverty, ecological degradation, population expansion interweave, which made Bijie deep into vicious circle of"the more born the more cultivated, the more cultivated the more poorer, the more poorer the more born"and difficult to extricate themselves.

The background of Bijie ecological planning The economic reasons of poor Bijie are unreasonable industrial structure. Bijie which is not on the boundary of our country, has no river and coast, is a typical inland areas with poor Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. C 679 infrastructure, poor transportation and lack of information. Although rich in resources, its industrial structure is irrational (In1987, Bijie industrial structure shown in Figure 1) and productivity is very backward, it has almost no industry and in a self-sufficient state. In 1987, Bijie, only more than 180 kg of grain per capita, per rural capita net income is only 184 yuan, eight counties in five are state-level poor counties, 55% of the population is living in poverty. The area natural reasons of poor Bijie are karst.Bijie located in upstream of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River, is a typical karst(Karst areas is characterized by funnel, rocks everywhere, barren soil, sparse vegetation on the ground; and cave, river stretches under the ground, its production and living conditions are extremely poor, United Nations’ relevant organizations have been identified karst as "unfit for human living areas"). As karst hilly plateau, it is characterized by mountains and less land, fragmental land , barren soil, grave rocky, and because of population growth, in order to fill the stomach, people land on reclamation, develope mountain for food, which causing heavy soil erosion, before 1987, the region's forest coverage rate is only 14.94%, grassy lawn decreased by 33.94%, agricultural reclamation rate increased from 30% to 46.4% and more than 62% of the land area is the area of soil erosion. This "reverse development" of ecological resources, not only caused serious soil erosion and ecological deterioration, but also exacerbate the level of poverty and hinder the development of test area seriously. The social reasons of poor Bijie are population explosion and low quality.Bijie is ghettos which is traditional agriculture-based, the traditional fertility concept of raising children for pension and procreation is deeply entrenched, family planning work become very difficult. The phenomenon of multiple births are universal, which forming a vicious circle of "the poorer the more children, the more children lead poorer". In 1987, the population of per square kilometer is 207, which is far higher than the national average. Total population of 5.76 million, compared with 2.11 million in 1949 increased by 1.65 times and the natural population growth rate is 19.5%. Illiteracy of young adults up to 950, 000, only 10 graduates in per million. And under the poor and backward economy condition , culturing human can not arise. The major problems of experiment zone is improving the cultural quality of the population, strengthening the development of human resource, consolidating the results of basic education, vigorously developing vocational education and adult education and improving the quality of compulsory education in rural. THE THEORETICAL BASIS OF ECOLOGICAL PLANNING

The theory of sustainable development “Our Common Future” which was published by The World Commission Environment And Development in 1987 defined “sustainable development” as: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” The definitions reflects the following principles: 1) the principle of fairness, including intergenerational equity, intergenerational equity and fair allocation of limited resources; 2) sustainable principle, namely, the economic and social development of mankind can not go beyond the carrying capacity of resources and environment; 3) the common principle, means the whole earth and interdependence, the sustainable development of a country could not independently its own, sustainable development is the goal of global[9]. Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. C 680

The idea of sustainable development covers the ecological view , social values, economic view, technical view of sustainable development. Development is the core of sustainable development, backwardness and poverty could not achieve the goal of sustainable development, economic development is the fundamental guarantee for the realization of population, resources, environment and coordinated economic development. From the angle of system theory, sustainable development is to realize the optimization of the development of human giant system. From the viewpoint of environmental economics, sustainable development is strengthening environmental values, promoting the efficient use of resources, inhibiting the occurrence of environment pollution, realizing the coordination and unity of economic benefit and the harmonization of social benefits and environmental benefits.

The theory of Ecological Economics Ecological economics is a complex system that mixed ecosystem and economic system : an interdisciplinary about movement among the factors of ecological economic system interrelated, interaction, mutual transformation. How to achieve the coordinated development of the ecosystem and economic system is the central issue of ecological economics. The basic contradiction of ecological economic system is this:The contradiction between a growth-oriented mechanism economic system’s unlimited demand for nature resources and a stable mechanism ecosystem’s limited supply of nature resources. The basic principle of Economics: (1) the ecological economic system structure optimization (2) balance and benefit of ecological economic system principle (3) ecological economic system function and value principle.

Compound ecological systems theory Chinese famous ecologist Mr. Ma Shijun put forward the concept of compound ecosystem. Professor Wang Rusong conduct niche theory study that uses the population as the object, is extended to the system including the earth all the phenomena of life. Compound ecological system is composed of natural subsystem, economic subsystem, social subsystem, three systems exhibit three functional interaction, mutual influence in the process of operation, which is social progress, economic development and environmental improvement. Development and progress of society subsystem refers to the process of human reproduction, the process consumes economic system’s life data and provides human resources, social service and social security for the development of economic system and natural system, at the same time produce consumption pollution returned to nature[10].Compound ecosystem system science theory emphasizes the integrity, relevance system factors interrelated and interacting, it also emphasizes the system structure determines its function, the system is closely related with the environment and their ongoing material, energy and information exchange, transformation, in addition the theory also emphasizes the system is dynamic changing, development, system balance is a relative balance[4]. BIJIE ECOLOGICAL PLANNING AND EFFECTIVENESS

Bijie ecological planning Ecological planning of Bijie test area closely around "three themes", and according to its own "poverty, ecological deterioration, population expansion", after 26 years of exploration test, summed up a unique ecological planning strategy. Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. C 681

1 "Three theme" promote co-ordination, the system management. Bijie Experimental Zone for the development of poverty alleviation, ecological construction, population control are the three major themes of an organic whole, exists between the three themes of interdependence, mutual contact and mutual influence, mutual restraint, mutual causal relationship, as shown in figure 2. In practice, the test area has always been to "three themes" to promote the overall development of systematic renovation, can not be neglected, combine ecological construction and economic development, support the ecological construction through economic development, promote the economic development by ecological construction, reducing pressure on the environment through controlling population, the promotion of population quality to speed up the pace of poverty. The previous pilot area is extreme poverty and behind, but from the beginning of construction of pilot area is not simply the pursuit of economic efficiency, but the economic, ecological and social benefits both together to form population, resources, environment, economic and social development. Various measures of collaborative governance. In order to speed up infrastructure construction, there is a lot of innovation in the test area in the investment and financing system , using BT, BOT, silver political cooperation mode; In the development of poverty reduction, firmly grasping the development first, adhere to the development oriented poverty relief, both energetically developing local advantages, natural resources and human resources, summed up effective "eight poverty alleviation mode"; In ecological construction, to explore the "engineering measures", "biological measures", "cultivation measures" co governance model; On population control, test area implement group responsibility system to promote the management of family planning work towards to the institution, scientific. Combining the protection of cultivated land and family planning, implementing the "hook" policy and family planning self-government mechanism. On the same time, comprehensively improving the quality of the population, improving people's ability, insisting on the priority of education, increasing the investment in education.

Ecological planning effectiveness After more than 20 years of experiments, the Bijie pilot area which is focused on the three themes: poverty alleviation through development, ecological construction, population control, has been transformed into a demonstration area embarking on a road of scientific development which features the rapid economic development，the good ecological environment and the improved population quality from the extreme impoverished karst alpine region. The key indicators table of “the three themes” from the Bijie pilot area is shown in Table 1:

Table 1: The key indicators table of “the three themes” from the Bijie pilot area Unit In 1987 In 2005 In 2011 The growth Average ratio growth compared rate The The growth to the end Billion more than during the growth in Value Value Value of the 10th RMB last year 11th five- five-year 24 years (%) year plan plan(%) （times） Billion 41.43 GDP 23.102 73.741 16.80 13.79 2.60 RMB times Total Billion 1.780 11.422 18.500 6.20 8.02 1.62 agricultural RMB Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. C 682 output value Total Billion industrial 10.068 32.948 12.33 13.15 3.27 RMB output value Total Social Billion 421.32 investment 11.165 83.090 83.90 32.26 4.05 RMB times in fixed assets Social consumable Billion 0.197 3.893 12.610 20.40 26.50 3.24 total retail RMB sales General Billion 92.68 financial 3.481 18.166 42.40 29.60 3.66 RMB times revenue Local Billion 22.90 financial 0.196 1.521 7.796 54.38 38.66 5.13 RMB times revenue Rural per capita net RMB 184.00 1795.0 4210.00 25.53 13.16 1.87 income Rural poor Thousand 3450.0 616.1 318.4 -29.77 -3131.6 population people Urban per capita 23.14 RMB 697.00 13783. 16132.0 17.05 16.12 2.11 disposable times income Thousand Grain output 2472.2 1919.0 -12.70 1.25 1.06 tons Thousand Coal output 25737. 46274.0 15.90 12.45 1.80 tons Electric Billion energy kilowatt 21.720 40.814 -3.30 13.45 1.88 production hour Cigarette Billion 17.435 20.817 -0.50 3.61 1.19 production Urbanization Increase % 6.00 16.14 27.99 2.09 2.17 rate 21.99% Forest Increase coverage % 14.94 33.92 41.50 1.28 26.56% rate Controlled 709.69 Square soil erosion 16725. 7630.02 8778.78 （for 5 8778.78 kilometer area years） Natural population ‰ 19.50 8.59 6.79 -0.30 -2.34 -12.71 growth rate

As can be seen from the above table which compares the main indicators of economic and social development, significant progress and tremendous changes have been made in the Bijie pilot area in the past 20 years. It is mainly reflected in the following aspects: 1 Economic strength has markedly increased. The GDP of the Bijie pilot area increased from 1.78 billion yuan to 73.741 billion yuan, that was an increase of 41.43 times. In addition, general financial revenue rose from 196 million yuan to 18.166 billion yuan, which increased 92.68 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. C 683 times. The fourth largest high quality tobacco production area and the important energy base of “West-East electricity transmission project” in China have been completed in this area. What’s more, the comprehensive economic strength of Bijie jumped from the bottom in Guizhou province to the third. 2 The living standards of people has improved significantly. Urban per capita disposable income of the Bijie pilot area increased from 697 yuan to 16132 yuan, the growth is 23.14 times. Besides, rural per capita net income increased from 182 yuan to 4210 yuan, the increase is 22.90 times. Furthermore, the total poor population reduced from 3.45 millions to 318.4 thousands and the rural poverty rate fell from 65.4% to 4%.Six poverty-stricken counties successively helped their people get above survival levels of income. Moreover, the coverage rate of urban and rural minimum living standard security system has reached 100%. 3 The ecological environment has improved remarkably. The forest area increased from 6.01 million acres to more than 16.20 million acres; and forest coverage rate rose from 14.94% to 41.50%, an increase of 26.56%. Besides, the soil erosion area reduced by 7946.22 square kilometers. 4 The population control has had a pronounced effect. The natural population growth rate decreased from 19.5 ‰ to 6.79‰. The historic shift which transforms the population reproduction pattern from “high birth rate, low death rate, high growth rate” into “low birth rate, low death rate, low growth rate” has been realized. The population reproduction has reached the level of replacement. 5 The infrastructure construction has been enhanced remarkably.The highway mileage in the Bijie pilot area rose from 5760 km to 24888.91 km. Furthermore, the classified highway increased from 950 km to 13275.75 km.All of the counties and towns have been connected with asphalt roads, meanwhile 94% of the villages have completed the same achievement.With the construction of a batch of expressways and Bijie airport, the status of the traffic behind will continue to improve. What’s more, the problem of engineering water shortage will also be solved step by step through the implementation of “the hope project”, “poverty relief project”, “rural drinking water safety project” and “tobacco-water supporting project”. CONCLUSION Facing the contradiction of increasingly serious ecological crisis as well as the conflict between the economic benefit which is pursuit of industrialization and the improvement of residents’ living conditions in recent years, a good ecological planning is especially important. The establishment of Bijie pilot area and the proposition of “the three themes” have provided new experience which is called “putting people first, adjusting measures to local conditions, overall planning and all-round consideration, multi-party cooperation, borrowing intelligence and strength” for the realization of scientific development in the west lack-developed areas in China.It is specifically shown in the following aspects: 1 We must lay equal stress on resource development and environmental protection and take the correct handling of population, resources and environment problems as the basic premise of ecological planning. 2 We must develop the economy and struggle for poverty alleviation simultaneously and take the improvement of people’s livelihood and basic public services as the main emphasis of ecological planning. Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. C 684

3 We must push population quantity control to go hand in hand with population quality improvement and take the realization of people’s all-round development as the important goal of ecological planning. 4 We must adjust measures to local conditions and make the best use of the circumstances at the same time and take the full use of the local advantage and the development of the characteristic industry as the major direction of ecological planning. REFERENCES 1. Ouyang Zhiyun, Wang Rusong（1995） “Retrospect and Prospect of Ecological Planning, ”[J].Journal of Natural Resources, 10(3):203-215. 2. Wang Rusong, Chi Ji, Ouyang Zhiyun（2001）“The Ecological Integration Method of Small and Medium-sized Towns’ Sustainable Development, ”[M].:China Meteorological Press, pp70-72. 3. Ma Shijun, Wang Rusong（1984）.“Society-Economy-Nature, ”[J].Acta Ecological 9(1):1-9. 4. Wang Rusong（1988） “The Regulation Principles of Urban Ecology: Efficient and Harmonious, ”[M].: Hunan Education Press, 1-90. 5. Huang Guangyu, Chen Yong（1997）“The Concept and Design Method: Eco-city, ”[J]. Journal of Urban Planning, (6):17-20. 6. Huang Guangyu, Chen Yong（1999）“Urban Ecology and Eco-city, ”[J]. Urban Environment & Urban Ecology, 12(6):28-31. 7. Shen Qingji（1998）“Urban Ecology & Urban Environment, ”[M].:Tongji University Press . 8. Wang Xiangrong(2000) “Ecology & Environment: the New Theory of Urban Sustainable Development and Ecological Environment Control, ”[M].:Southeast University Press, 9. Zhang Zhiqiang, Sun Chengquan, Cheng Guodong(1999) “Research on Sustainable Development: development and trend, ” [J]. The advance in Earth Sciences, 14 (6): 589.59 10. Pattem B, Odum E (1981)“The Cybernetic Nature of Ecosystem , ”American Nature, 118:886-895

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