As environmental protection becomes a global issue, erosion and sediment control professionals all have the responsibility to work beyond political and geographical boundaries, and to reach out to other countries with concerns to protect our planet and future sustainability. China, as one of the world’s fastest growing economies, has drawn broad attention from international communities.

China’s rapid economic development has pushed that nation into a challenging battle to mitigate pollution and negative human impacts on land and water. According to an official newspaper in China, the People’s Daily Overseas Edition (March 14, 2003), Xie Zhenhua, director of China’s State Environmental Protection Administration told a news conference that “the output value of China’s environmental protection is about 170 billion Chinese yuan [about 20.56 billion US dollars] a year, and is growing at an annual rate of 15 percent. It is predicted that from 2001 to 2005, the total investment in environmental protection will reach 700 billion yuan.” This is a dramatically increasing environmental market that opens to the world opportunities to invest and to sell products.

China covers an area almost equal to that of Europe. More than one-fifth of the world population is Chinese. The largest population, along with bigger manufacturing, farming, and other human activity, has worsened land disturbance and soil erosion by wind and water. Studies indicate soil erosion in China is occurring on a much larger scale than in other developing nations. Since the late 1940s, the eroded area has increased by 38%, and the area subject to erosion is now almost one-sixth of China’s total land area. Every year, another 5 billion tons of topsoil has eroded because of the misuse of marginal lands through deforestation and exhaustive agriculture. As a result, soil erosion has become one of the main reasons for poverty and potential social and political instability.

When wind erosion has set off harsh sand and dust storms in north China, downwind countries such as Korea, Japan, and even the US have had to bear the negative effects as well. Clearly, environmental protection has no national boundaries.

After the disastrous 10-year Cultural Revolution, China has been in a relatively peaceful environment for over 25 years now. Internal peace has fostered significant economic development and accumulation of wealth. As per Xinhua News Agency’s report in Beijing, on October 9, 2004, China’s foreign currency storage/reserve has reached more than $470 billion US. Furthermore, on November 6, 2004, the People’s Daily Overseas Edition stated that the size of the middle class in China is rapidly increasing and now includes over 80 million people.

The mounting demand for building materials as a result of China’s nationwide construction boom has already driven up the world market price for cement and steel. Highway construction is one of the most remarkable achievements; in the last 10 years, the total length of China’s nationwide constructed highways has exceeded 30,000 kilometers (approximately 18,600 miles) and ranks second in the world in entire highway length. China is demanding more products than ever from other countries. China’s expanding environmental market presents an attractive opportunity for erosion and sediment control professionals.

For instance, native seeds’ propagation and application for revegetation and erosion control is likely to be extraordinarily profitable in the long run. Noxious weeds and invasive species are threatening the native flora and fauna and have even altered the indigenous habitats/biotic communities in China, as well as other parts of the planet. More than 400 invasive species thrive in China. Costs and losses associated with these exotic harmful species threaten economic security, ecosystem stability, and biodiversity. The introduction of non-native vegetation for erosion control may help to stabilize the disturbed soil quickly in the short term but presents long-term ecological consequences. The best alternative will be to learn from Mother Nature by using native vegetation. Scientists in China have been studying the short-life native forbs and grass species in the arid northwest deserts, which have an average life span of 2 to 3 months, and have demonstrated they can significantly reduce wind erosion and dust and sand storms. The objective is to apply these local desert plants on a larger scale for revegetation and erosion control. Native-seed industries in the US could establish partnerships with Chinese companies and universities to invest and benefit from China’s rising native seed businesses.

To establish long-term credibility and mutual benefit, environmental businesses in China—as well those in other developing countries—should practice the highest standards of conservation. In many developing countries, stormwater pollution prevention has much less governmental regulation than in the US. Laws, policies, and permits regarding erosion and sediment control might be incredibly inadequate or might not even have been developed. Thus, it is vital for US companies working overseas to implement current National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) standards where local standards are not as stringent. The overseas erosion and sediment control projects carried out by US firms could be the demonstration projects to educate the public and to inspire environmental stewardship in local communities.

Certified Professionals in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESCs) and Certified Professionals in Storm Water Quality (CPSWQs), in conjunction with IECA, must stand on the leading edge to positively influence, educate, and exchange erosion and sediment control rules, policies, science, technologies, and products with China, as well as other parts of the world. The title of IECA’s official journal, Erosion Control, could be printed in six United Nation’s official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) on the magazine cover and on the footer of each page to help consolidate IECA’s position to broadly represent the international communities and to further reach out to different regions.

Environmental education is a powerful, gradual, and continuing effort that could shape current and future polices and ideologies. Erosion and sediment control toward enhanced soil and water conservation has been the top priority for CPESCs, CPSWQs, and IECA. China has a long tradition of valuing the importance of education. The CPESC organization might consider working with China to conduct CPESC training and exams there. Applicants in China should take a Chinese exam—which covers its existing laws, regulations, polices, and permits—prior to taking the English exam. It is crucial for Chinese applicants to take all parts of the English CPESC exam. This is the best way to assist them in advancing English, as well as comparatively studying the US laws, regulations, polices, and permits. Because erosion control is not simply a technical issue, it will be particularly beneficial for CPESC applicants in China to learn about the US NPDES and other erosion control–related policies and regulations. With the background knowledge of the US and international communities, CPESCs in China will formulate their own suitable and unique ways to resolve China’s erosion problems based on international experience.

IECA might consider working with international library organizations to distribute Erosion Control magazine to university and public libraries all over the world to make it a platform for multidisciplinary interactions between IECA members, CPESCs, CPSWQs, civil/environmental engineers, landscape architects, environmentalists, ecologists, planners, policy makers, and all people deeply concerned about future environmental sustainability.

As a CPESC, I would like to help build a bridge of understanding, information, and learning between the US, China, and the rest of the world. In this century, we are facing a serious environmental crisis of booming population against the pressure of less useable land with acceleration of soil erosion. The worldwide shortsighted human activities, such as the introduction of invasive/alien vegetation for rapid erosion control, are jeopardizing the health and sustainability of our ecosystems. Therefore, all countries must look beyond political and geographical boundaries with a global perspective. This will be an effective way to sustain our land and water.

Zitao Fang, CPESC, works with the Arizona Department of Transportation in the areas of NPDES, the Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, and landscape architectural/environmental design.

EC - May/June 2005