Importance and main ecological and environmental problems of lakes in China

• DOI: 10.1360/tb-2022-0178
• Publication Date: 2022-05-23T07:28:27Z
• Authors: Yunlin Zhang; Boqiang Qin; Guangwei Zhu; Chunqiao Song; Jianming Deng; Bin Xue; Zhijun Gong; Xiaolong Wang; Jinglu Wu; Kun Shi; Xiaohong Gu; Ganlin Zhang
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

<p indent="0mm">Lakes including reservoirs are sensitive to global environmental change and human activities in the basin. They sentinels regulators of regional climate. Meanwhile, lakes important constituent “landscape, forest, farmland, lake, grassland sand” life community. Remote sensing monitoring showed that there were 2670 (≥<sc>1 km²)</sc> with a total water area <sc>80662.4 km²,</sc> 5156 <sc>39697.1 km²</sc> China 2020. Water Statistical Yearbook 2021 number storage capacity completed increased from 86822 98566, <sc>416.9</sc> <sc>930.6 km³</sc> 1980 Therefore, is <sc>120359.5 but only accounting for 1.25% China’s land area. Although their proportion very limited, play vital role ensuring ecological civilization construction promoting economic social development Unfortunately, importance service values seriously underestimated lack real quantification. this study systematically explores quantifies services seven different perspectives. First, most best centralized drinking sources (CDWSs) contributing 40.6% CDWSs vs. river (30.8%) groundwater (28.6%), act as backbone safety based on 1093 340 prefecture-level cities 55 county-level (population ≥1 million). Second, have regulation functions key flood control drought resistance. Based national lake survey data, amount natural close <sc>150 km³.</sc> joint operation Yangtze River Basin indicated <sc>106.6 about <sc>69.5 47 reservoirs. Third, basins an food security. Of nine major commercial grain production areas, located Jianghuai zone northeast plain zone. Fourth, one richest biodiversity ecosystems earth. Among 62 international wetlands China, 26 Lake Poyang, Dongting, Qinghai etc 41.9%. Fifth, fishery plays evidenced by Fishery 2021, which aquaculture was 2186662 hectares, 42.7% freshwater 30.8% 2019. Sixth, tourism value contribute beautiful business cards many cities. 45 tourist resorts 15 resorts, third, highlighting rich resources lakes. Seventh, part northern security barrier. Hulunhu, Wuliangsuhai, Daihai, Qinghaihu, Bositenghu, Aibihu nodes In addition, big energy power generation, agricultural irrigation, inland navigation, carbon sequestration pollution reduction climate regulation. Large numbers types widely distributed throughout exhibiting obvious differentiation. Moreover, facing problems reduce providing services. Specifically, eutrophication cyanobacteria bloom not been fundamentally alleviated, threats quality sources. The aquatic vegetation degraded, weaken purification biodiversity. synergistic effects rapid intense cause either flooding, shrinkage or salinization. Warm humid results expansion Tibetan Plateau, significantly increase risk glacial outburst. Aiming above-mentioned problems, puts forward strategies countermeasures protection management lake-basin system studies, scientific resources, early warning control, restoration project, basin industrial structure upgrading, legislation, will promote improvement