The Western China Agro-Ecological Village (WCAEV) Development Project:
A partnership between the Chinese Administrative Center for Seabuckthorn Development (CACSD) and Resource Efficient Agricultural Production (R.E.A.P.) �| Canada

Seabuckthorn is used as a soil stabilizer to help control erosion on China 's steep slopes. More information can be found at http://www.icrts.org/.

The environmental quality of China remains in a long term trend of deterioration as the growing population places tremendous pressure on the country 's diminishing resources. Western China is a major priority as the region suffers from a high incidence of poverty, the most seriously eroding soils, and desertification in the world. Deforestation, overgrazing and the expansion of land used for crop production has contributed to extremely severe soil erosion from wind and water forces over a 2.9 million km2 area. The annual erosion rates in the yellow river watershed reach up to 300 tonne/ha/yr with an average of 110 tonne/ha/yr, with the high silt output so serious that the yellow river has ceased flowing for extended periods of time.

The Ministry of Water Resources is working on 10 demonstration watershed areas in Western China to implement sustainable land use practices that reduce the severe soil degradation, improve water management and reduce poverty in the region. The conservation measures being implemented to help resolve the problem include the reduction of grazing and widespread planting of conservation plants such as sea buckthorn and caragena, and engineering measures including terracing, check dams and water conservation systems for households.

Farmer evaluating improved variety of millet for food production	Severe soil erosion in China in the hills is a direct result of livestock grazing on fragile lands	Women in Gansu Province examining improved potato hoe that reduces labour requirements

The CACSD under the Ministry of Water Resources is working in partnership with REAP-Canada to implement the Agro-Ecological Village development model in China. A three year project has been funded by the Shell Foundation Sustainable Communities Program with project implementation sites in Inner Mongolia and Gansu province. The aim of the project is the holistic development of two communities in western China in a manner that overcomes poverty and environmental degradation with sustainable agricultural systems and community capacity building. This is being achieved through the introduction of a farmer-to-farmer education and training program, improving local communication and resource networks and the establishment of farmer field testing and trial sites demonstrating appropriate technologies and seed varieties.

The partnership is improving the communication and support and technology sharing between Countries like China and Canada, as well as increasing the self reliance of marginalized Chinese farmers living in environmentally sensitive areas, while at the same time reclaiming degraded and vulnerable environments.

Training session with local farmers in Gansu Province, China

Over its 3 years of implementation, the WCAEV aims to achieve the following:

• Increased capacity of farmers through the establishment of a farmer training network
  • 900 trainees trained
  • 300 farm plans developed
  • Training modules developed, printed, and distributed to farmers
• Increased household income by 20%
• Improved status and quality of life of women in rural communities
  • Women involved in 20% of project community activities
  • Improved quality of life (housing, education, health)
• Improved environmental conditions and a 33% reduction in areas vulnerable to soil loss through landscaper restoration activities including contour farming, revegetation of sloping lands and controlled grazing

To learn more about our programming in China, refer to the documents in our on-line library.

(C)2004 REAP-Canada