On June 28, 2019, a press conference about Achievements of Dynamic Monitoring of Soil Erosion in China in 2018 was held by the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR). Mr. Pu Chaoyong, Director General and Mr. Mo Mo, Vice Director General from the Department of Soil and Water Conservation of MWR, and Mr. Lin Zuoding, Director General of Soil and Water Conservation Monitoring Center of MWR, introduced the achievements of soil erosion monitoring in the year of 2018 and answered questions from the media.

　　I. Current Situations of Soil Erosion

　　According to the result of dynamic monitoring, soil erosion area in 2018 reached 2.7369 million square kilometers, accounting for 28.6% of the total territory of China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan). Compared with that in 2011, soil erosion area had been reduced by 212,300 square kilometers or 7.2%, which equals to the area of Hunan Province.

　　Soil erosion is mainly divided into two types: water erosion and wind erosion. The area suffers from water erosion occupies 1.1509 million square kilometers, taking up 42% of the total eroded area and 12% of the total territory. The area suffers from wind erosion covers 1.586 million square kilometers, occupying 58% of the total eroded area or 16.6% of the total territory.

　　The intensity of soil erosion is classified as five grades: mild, moderate, strong, very strong and severe. The area classified as mild reached 1.6825 million square kilometers, accounting for 61.5% of the total; and the area classified as moderate and above amounted to 1.0544 million square kilometers, taking up 38.5% of the total.

　　Regarding erosion distribution, water-induced erosion is widely distributed in 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, while wind erosion is mainly distributed in Northwest China, North China and Northeast China. The western region witnessed the severest soil erosion, with an eroded area of 2.2899 million square kilometers, accounting for 83.7% of the total eroded land. The central region ranked second, with an eroded area of 300,400 square kilometers, taking up 11% of the total. The eastern region recorded the slightest soil erosion, with an eroded area of 146,600 square kilometers, occupying 5.3% of the total.

　　II. Main Characteristics

　　Currently, the features and trend of soil erosion in China are as follows:

　　First, the eroded area has continued to decline. According to the results of four round of surveys (monitoring) in 1985, 1999, 2011, 2018, the total eroded area in China was 3.6703 million square kilometers, 3.5556 million square kilometers, 2.9492 million square kilometers and 2.7369 million square kilometers respectively, decreasing by 0.22%, 1.42% and 1.03%.

　　Second, moderate and mild soil erosion are the largest category, with a significantly decreased intensity. Compared with the results of 2011, the eroded area with moderate intensity or above declined by 511,100 square kilometers or 32.65% in 2018, while the eroded area with moderate intensity or less decreased by 14.6%, indicating a trend of moving from high-intensity to low-intensity erosion. At present, 78.7% falls into the category moderate and mild.

　　Third, water erosion is declining at a fast rate, while wind erosion declines at a relatively slower rate. Compared with that in 2011, water erosion area shrank by 142,400 square kilometers or 11%, in 2018 and wind erosion area was reduced by 69,900 square kilometers or 4.22%. Both absolute amount and the rate of water erosion reduction were higher than those of wind erosion.

　　Fourth, the eastern region recorded a higher reduction rate, while the western region registered a bigger absolute amount of reduction. Compared with those in 2011, the water loss and soil erosion area of eastern, central and western regions of China declined by 25,900 square kilometers, 33,200 square kilometers, 153,100 square kilometers or 15.00%, 9.97%, 6.27%, respectively. Specifically, the eastern region witnessed a high reduction rate but a small absolute amount of reduction in water loss and soil erosion area; whereas the western region showed a relatively low reduction rate but a huge absolute amount of reduction in water loss and soil erosion area.

　　III. Three Major Outcomes

　　Based on monitoring results and evaluation, three outcomes are concluded as follows:

　　First, the monitoring results reflect remarkable achievements made in soil and water conservation. Since 2012, soil erosion area in China has decreased by 212,300 square kilometers, with significantly decreased erosion intensity.

　　Second, priorities have been given to conservation, combined with strategies for prevention of soil and water loss. Thanks to the strict control of newly increased artificial water loss and soil erosion, self-recovery of the nature, and implementation and promotion of comprehensive control in severe water loss and soil erosion areas, both the area and intensity of erosion has been reduced.

　　Third, soil erosion is still a major concern of ecological protection in China. Currently, soil erosion area amounts to more than 1/4 of total territory in China, which is widely distributed and results in great difficulty for erosion control. In particular, central and western regions, which have higher intensity in infrastructure construction and resource development, is facing increasing pressure for soil and water conservation. Soil erosion has led to soil and water losses in the Loess Plateau, black soil region of Northeast China, Yangtze River Economic Zone and stony desertification areas. Moreover, it is urgent for poverty-stricken area to accelerate integrated small watershed management.

　　Ministry of Water Resources will make further efforts for annual dynamic monitoring, by optimizing technical route and build a scientific and efficient monitoring-supporting system, in a bid to better serve soil and water conservation and advance the cause of ecological civilization in China.