Sixty Years of Paradigm Shift in China (1949-2010): Change of Policies and Practices on Terrestrial Ecosystem Management - Policy Brief

This document examines the evolution of China’s social and economic policies since 1949 and their implications for ecosystem management. It identifies major policy areas affecting ecosystems, including land tenure, food security, regional development, urbanisation, and sustainable development. The analysis is organised into three phases. The first phase, from 1949 to 1978, focused on grain production and included the collectivisation of land in 1958, which contributed to ecosystem degradation. The second phase, from 1978 to 1998, marked a transition towards natural ecosystem conservation following economic reforms and the introduction of open market policies that increased household economic independence. The third phase, from 1998 onwards, emphasised ecosystem management for sustainability after severe flooding along the Changjiang and Songhua Rivers prompted major restoration projects in central and western China. The paper notes that despite these policy shifts, significant challenges remain in managing cropland, forests, grasslands, wetlands, protected areas, and biodiversity. Pressures from land use constraints and rapid urbanisation continue to affect ecosystem health and the provision of ecosystem services. The document concludes that sustained policy support, ecosystem restoration, and household-based economic incentives are essential for maintaining ecosystem health and integrating ecosystem management into broader sustainable development strategies.