Law to protect Yangtze significant step to realize ecological civilization

THE MINISTRY OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT announced at a news conference in Beijing on Friday that it is closely working with the country's top legislature to draft a protection law for the Yangtze River that is scheduled to be submitted to the legislature for deliberation before the end of this year. China Daily writer Li Yang comments:

The Yangtze River is one of the two mother rivers of China; the other is the Yellow River. The Yangtze River basin is home to 32 percent of the country's population, and produces 34 percent of its gross domestic product and 33 percent of its grain output.

The importance of the law cannot be overstated. It will better protect the river's ecosystem. It also has symbolic significance as it will be the first law tailor-made for a specific river. In time, other important rivers, lakes and mountain ranges can have their own protection laws, which will provide local law enforcers with a stronger legal basis to fulfill their duties.