Four-level river chief system helps eco protection of Honghe

Endowed with rich water resources, southeast Yunnan’s Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture is faced with heavy ecological protection tasks. Thanks to the four-level river chief system which was established across the prefecture in 2017, rivers and lakes have been effectively monitored and protected.

As the chief of Edie Reservoir and the Baohua section of Menglong River, these days, Zhou Ransan, Party Secretary of Baohua Township, has to visit the reservoir every day to ensure everything is ok as the irrigation season comes.

Up to now, river chief system has been in smooth operation at the prefecture, county, township and village levels. 3,662 chiefs have been appointed and 1,831 supervisors and cleaners have been recruited to inspect the rivers and lakes covering the whole prefecture.

Local government also sets up file for each river and lake. It includes problems, protection objectives, responsibilities and measures. As soon as they discover contaminations, river chiefs need to send pictures and texts via the “River Chief” app to their superior departments.

Zhou Ransan believes that with clearly defined responsibilities and efficient measures, the lucid waters and green mountains will be protected through the implementation of the four-level river chief system in Honghe prefecture.

Text by Li Shufen; photos from Yunnan Daily reporters; trans-editing by Li Hengqiang