Empirical appraisal of Jiulong River Watershed Management Program

Integrated watershed management is becoming a prominent approach in China although the effectiveness of watershed programs has been contested. This study presents a systematic framework and set of indicators for conducting a detailed evaluation of the Jiulong River Watershed Program (JRWP) in China by assessing the implementation process, outputs and outcomes as well as exploring the implementation gap. The empirical appraisal demonstrated that although the JRWP succeeded in establishing a high-level coordinating mechanism, innovative eco-compensation system and strict binding mechanisms, it did not fully achieve its desired objectives. The implementation gap analysis shows that some failures of the JRWP are closely associated with the socioeconomic and political complications in China, in addition to the issue of program design. Future watershed programs must consider the specific socioeconomic situation and political structure of China in order to ensure the effectiveness of watershed management programs.