Vegetation Reconstruction in the Water-level-fluctuation Zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir
消涨带及三峡水库消涨带植被重建

Vegetation reconstruction and restoration in the newly formed water-level-fluctuation zone (WLFZ) of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area is critically significance in ecological safety in the area and restoration of the anthropogenic-impacted ecosystem of the Yangtze River region.The natural zone and its riparian vegetation are among the most important components of the river watershed ecosystem and play a crucial role in ecological service and sustainable development for the local economy. Control of the water level in regulated rivers has led to a destroyed habitat for riparian vegetation, and the ecosystem is largely degraded, with little or no vegetation.The Three Gorges project is unavoidably destroying the riparian vegetation in the natural WLFZ and has led to the creation of a newly regulated WLFZ without vegetation. Results of extensive field surveys have revealed that exploitation of land resources in the area for the development of the local economy will be further deleterious to the environment and will have a great negative impact on the safety of the dam. Reconstruction and restoration of riparian vegetation along the newly formed WLFZ is urgently needed to gradually recover the ecological function and ecoservice in the up-stream Yangtze River.