However, accelerated industrialization and urbanization has increased the need for resources and energy in the Poyang Lake area. Due to continuous changes in the environment, including global warming, Poyang Lake has seen low water levels for several years in a row, and pollution has deteriorated water quality. The challenge is to keep the lake water clean and the wheels of industry turning.

In 2008, the provincial government made an important decision regarding the construction of the Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone: to make comprehensive, parallel plans for its ecological and socio-economic development. Through its changing developmental phases, Jiangxi is blazing a new trail in coordinated eco-socio-industrial development. With the approval of the Plan by the State Council, construction of the zone has been elevated to a place in the national strategy – the one for the fast lane of eco-economic construction efforts. It will have a great impact beyond Jiangxi.

Keeping the Lake Clean

Planning and construction will take place from 2009 to 2015, and the long-term prospects for 2020 are already in mind. The task between 2009 and 2015 is to innovate new systems and mechanisms, consolidate a development foundation, and increase the strength of the ecological economy, to form a new mode of coordinated development. It aims to be nationally advanced on three scores: showcasing a made-to-order regional ecological environment, transforming underdeveloped regions with ecological industrial systems, and constructing, essentially, a mini ecological civilization. The tasks between 2016 and 2020 is to build powerful ecological safety systems, form advanced and highly effective ecological industrial groups, and build new cities that are ecologically suitable for living. Achieved, this should define "modern living" in the mid-21st century.

In 2008, Jiangxi launched a number of pilot projects to this end. It invested RMB 4.73 billion in the construction of sewage treatment plants in 85 counties (cities), to be completed by the end of this year. To remove the threat of domestic waste to the water quality of the lake, Jiangxi has introduced hazard-free treatment plants for domestic waste in rural areas. Each year it explores long-term solutions for minimizing garbage, and in three to five years, hazard-free and recyclable garbage will be a reality in 50,000 villages and 500 towns. Reforestation will increase Jiangxi's green coverage to 63 percent in 2010.

Altogether, the plan has set 13 quotas for the Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone. They include: the area of natural wetlands to be stabilized at 3,100 square kilometers; the quality of water to be stabilized at Category III or above, and per unit energy consumption of regional GDP to drop 20 percent in 2015 on the basis of 2008 figures; the per capita regional GDP to reach RMB 45,000 by 2015; and the bar for annual income growth for urban and rural inhabitants is 8 percent. National planning to back these goals constitutes a powerful guarantee for keeping Poyang Lake crystal clear.

Commercial Opportunities

The promulgation of the plan not only promotes the development of Jiangxi's ecological economy, but also provides an important platform for plenty of commercial opportunities in this region. The central government will lend support via financial and taxation policies and facilitation of major projects.

According to the plan and in line with the requirements of an ecological economy, the Poyang Lake area will build eight new-type industrial bases – photoelectricity, new energy, aviation, bio-industry, auto and auto parts, copper smelting and precision processing, deep processing of steel, and oil refinery and petrochemical plants. By 2015, this region will have a high profile in China for its fast development, and its uncompromising construction of an ecological civilization.

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