Land and water resources management problems in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China

Since 1949 the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China has experienced massive in-migration from other parts of China. Under a strong ideology of ‘opening up wasteland’ (kaihuang), large areas of desert, pastureland and wetlands have been converted to cropland. This process has increased the competition over scarce water resources and created problems for many traditional oasis settlements that are increasingly facing problems of water shortages and water pollution. This article sets out to give a general overview of some of the changes in population, land use, and water use that have taken place in the region in the last 50 years. Some key environmental effects of this development will also be documented. The conclusion is that past and present policies and management practices related to land and water resources in Xinjiang are not sustainable in the long run and urgently need to be revised.

Keywords:

• China
• wasteland
• environmental management
• degradation
• migration
• salinization

Notes

1 In Chinese population statistics, the total population is divided into agricultural and non-agricultural populations. Members of the agricultural population support themselves and their families by being engaged in agricultural production, including forestry, livestock farming, fisheries, and sidelines. The agricultural population also includes the farmers' dependants. From the 1980s onwards, some people moved to cities and towns to work in industries or to operate businesses though they retained their agricultural hukou (resident permit under the household registration system).

2 The issue of landownership in China is more complex than outlined here. For a discussion, see Ho 2001.