Green embankments help conserve Yellow River

Black-necked cranes forage for food at a wetland area in Hongyuan county, Sichuan, in April 2022. HE HAIYANG/FOR CHINA DAILY

Originating in Qinghai province, the Yellow River, often dubbed as the cradle of the Chinese civilization, runs through nine provinces and autonomous regions, including Sichuan and Henan, before emptying into the Bohai Sea in East China's Shandong province.

All sections of the Yellow River in Sichuan, which stretch for 174 km, are located in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture. In the prefecture, it passes through four counties — Aba, Songpan, Hongyuan and Zoige.

With its wetlands storing almost 10 billion cubic meters of water, the prefecture serves as a key supplier of water for the Yellow River in its upper reaches, contributing up to 40 percent of its water in low-flow periods and 26 percent during high-flow periods.

In Hongyuan, local authorities have been following a similar eco-friendly approach to treat the Nagpo Tsecbu River, another meandering watercourse.

When standing on a bridge in Anqu township in the county, visitors are immersed in a profound contrast between traditional embankment construction methods and the innovative eco-friendly approach.

One side of the river showcases a discordant blend of concrete-reinforced embankments, built years ago to address flood risks to a nearby community, against the natural backdrop, while the opposite bank unveils a distinctly contrasting scenery that is harmonious with its surrounding environment.

"It is built with wire mesh containers," said Jiang Jian, head of Hongyuan's bureau of ecology and environment. "These gabions combine flood protection necessities with a strong emphasis on ecological restoration, harmonizing effectively with the surrounding ecosystem."

The 9.6-km embankment was completed in October last year, and a series of other ecological remediation programs have also been rolled out along with it, including the restoration of more than 8 square km of grassland, according to Jiang.

Previously, the riverbank was often subjected to erosion, depleting the grasslands, he said. The embankments constructed with gabions, which have good water permeability, have not only addressed the problems but also prevented livestock waste from entering the river.

Sediment in the water can settle within the gaps of the filled stones, promoting the growth of natural vegetation and gradually restoring the original ecological environment, Jiang added.

"This area used to be a degraded grassland, severely affected by desertification, with vegetation coverage as low as 10 to 20 percent. After restoration, it now resembles the surrounding grasslands," he said.