**Environmental Destruction Caused by Flooding and Deforestation in the Yangtze River Basin – China, 1950s to 2020s**

**Environmental Destruction Caused by Flooding and Deforestation in the Yangtze River Basin – China, 1950s to 2020s**

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**Deforestation from the 1950s to the 1980s and Its Impact**
In China's Yangtze River Basin, forests that covered 22% of the basin's area in the 1950s had shrunk to just 10% by the 1980s. This sharp decline was caused by excessive deforestation in upstream regions such as Sichuan and Hubei provinces. The loss of forests reduced the basin's water retention capacity, leading to massive soil erosion during heavy rains. This resulted in as much as 2.2 billion tons of sediment flowing into the Yangtze River annually. Consequently, the riverbed rose, and the risk of flooding increased dramatically. The river became so murky that it was lamented as having "become a second Yellow River," and the ecosystem suffered severe damage. The habitats of fish and plankton were destroyed, causing immense harm to the lives and economic activities of local residents.

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**Policies and Initiatives Since the 1990s**
In the 1990s, the Chinese government recognized the problems caused by deforestation and introduced the "Conversion of Farmland to Forest" policy. This initiative aimed to convert farmland back into forest to enhance water retention capacity and mitigate flood risks. Additionally, as part of international cooperation, organizations such as Japan's Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided support—primarily in Jiangxi Province—for the planting of protective forests and the mitigation of soil erosion, contributing to the restoration of the local ecosystem.

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**New Initiatives and Challenges in the 2010s**
In the 2010s, efforts aimed at environmental conservation and sustainable development accelerated throughout the Yangtze River basin. In 2016, the Chinese government launched the "Yangtze River Economic Belt" initiative, promoting efforts to balance ecology and economic development centered on the Yangtze River. Under this plan, stricter environmental regulations for major companies and the adoption of green technologies were encouraged to reduce the environmental impact of economic activities in the Yangtze River basin.

Additionally, in 2017, preparations began for the Yangtze River Protection Law, leading to strengthened management of industrial waste and crackdowns on illegal mining within the basin. Consequently, forest restoration programs were intensified, and additional afforestation activities were carried out in areas surrounding the Three Gorges Dam. During this period, the basin's forest cover rate began to increase again, with recovery exceeding 15% confirmed in some regions.

Furthermore, in the late 2010s, major Chinese corporations such as Alibaba and Tencent introduced water quality monitoring systems utilizing AI technology. Data-driven environmental management became widespread, enabling the rapid identification of pollution sources and the implementation of countermeasures.

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**Current Situation and New Challenges in the 2020s**
Even in the 2020s, flood damage continues to occur frequently in the Yangtze River basin. In particular, between June and August 2020, five major floods occurred in the Yangtze River basin. Widespread flooding occurred in cities in the lower reaches, such as Chongqing and Nanjing, and economic losses are estimated to have reached hundreds of billions of yuan. Environmental destruction caused by deforestation continues to be cited as one of the contributing factors to these floods.

The Three Gorges Dam has played a crucial role in mitigating such flood damage. During the "Fifth Yangtze River Flood" of 2020, the dam stored 7.66 billion cubic meters of floodwater, thereby reducing flood risks downstream. However, the operation of the Three Gorges Dam has been accompanied by concerns regarding environmental impact and safety; in particular, fears of a dam breach have arisen during flood events.

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**The Role of Materials and Corporations**
To address environmental issues, forest restoration to enhance carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption is essential. Additionally, the Three Gorges Dam operator and China National Building Materials Group are investing in environmental restoration across the entire basin and working toward sustainable resource management. The widespread adoption of environmental monitoring systems utilizing technology from Alibaba and Tencent is also contributing to pollution control.

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**Summary**
Flooding in the Yangtze River basin was triggered by environmental destruction caused by deforestation beginning in the 1950s, and the effects of this continue to this day. To overcome this, further afforestation efforts, strengthened environmental policies, and cooperation between companies and international organizations are essential. Environmental improvements in this region will contribute significantly not only to the entire country of China but also to sustainable development on a global scale.