Ecological Status and Changes of Taihu Lake

Taihu Lake, one of the five largest freshwater lakes in China, "includes wuyue". The lake covers 36,000 hectares, and 72 islands are dotted around, with beautiful natural scenery.

Taihu Lake is the mother lake of the Yangtze River Delta and the source of life for developing eco-tourism. However, the water pollution in Taihu Lake is worrying.

First, the water pollution in Taihu Lake is serious and the ecological environment is deteriorating.

How many Chinese and foreign tourists are fascinated by the song "Taihu Lake is beautiful, and beauty lies in Taihu Lake"! How many Chinese and foreign tourists has Taihu Lake attracted! However, the water pollution in Taihu Lake makes many people concerned about the development of tourism around Taihu Lake deeply worried!

(1) Taihu Lake is seriously polluted by water. Only 40% of the water in Taihu Lake meets the Class III or above standard of surface water, while 70% of the water reaches the level of eutrophication. The concentration of main pollutants has increased to a certain extent, and cyanobacteria have erupted from time to time.

(2) The whole basin is seriously short of water. The deterioration of surface water quality is the direct cause of a large number of groundwater exploitation, while ultra-intensive exploitation leads to the rapid decline of groundwater level and the waste of high-quality groundwater resources. The planned new construction, expansion and large-scale water intake of Taihu Lake under construction have increased the annual water intake of Taihu Lake. Considering the expansion of water use and ecological water use in the future, by 2020, the water demand around Taihu Lake will increase by at least 3 billion cubic meters compared with 2000. According to the operation mode of Taihu Lake, the regulating capacity of Taihu Lake is only 1 to 2 billion cubic meters.

(3) Cage culture and enclosure culture in Taihu Lake have exceeded the carrying capacity of Taihu Lake, seriously affecting the ecological environment of local waters of Taihu Lake and destroying the ecological function of the lake. Take East Taihu Lake as an example. East Taihu Lake is the main channel for Taihu Lake to flood downstream and supply water to Shanghai and other places, and the water discharged through East Taihu Lake accounts for about 70%-80% of the total discharge of Taihu Lake. East Taihu Lake has become one of the main areas for cultivating hairy crabs in purse seine because of its shallow lake, clear water, small wind and waves and large fluctuation of water level. A large amount of bait needs to be put into net enclosure culture, and the residual bait accumulates at the bottom of the lake, which becomes the fertilizer for the growth of harmful algae in the water, making the eutrophication of the water more serious. In addition, some released aquatic plants rot and crab droppings will have adverse effects on water quality.

(4) East Taihu Lake swamp. East Taihu Lake has shallow water, fertile original sediments and well-developed aquatic plants, which can absorb a lot of nutrients from lake water and sediments, and play a role in purifying lake water and preventing eutrophication. However, due to the fact that most of the water surface of East Taihu Lake is cultured in net enclosure, aquatic plants grow vigorously, forming a unique ecosystem of East Taihu Lake. "The lake flows eastward, transporting a lot of sediment and nutrients to the lake, and the lake basin becomes shallow, creating conditions for the growth of aquatic life in the lake. Cage culture and lush emergent organisms have reduced the wind and waves and velocity of East Taihu Lake, created conditions for siltation, and greatly accelerated the process of swamping East Taihu Lake. " "Lake flooding is a prelude to lake extinction.

(5) Increased flood control pressure. Land subsidence makes the height of the top of flood control dike relatively lower, thus lowering the flood control standard. The flood control standards of Suzhou, Wuxi and other large and medium-sized cities are only once every 20 to 50 years, and the flood control standards of small and medium-sized towns are even lower; Some completed dikes, seawalls and other projects still have weak links such as insufficient standards; Due to land subsidence, river siltation, the expansion of towns and polder areas, the reduction of rivers and lakes, the continuous expansion of urban areas, the increasing number of protected objects such as high-tech parks, industrial parks and economic development zones, the extension of flood control fronts and the aggravation of flood control pressure.

Second, Taihu Lake faces environmental problems.

Mainly:

(A) the administrative boundary waters pollution management issues

Pollution here, harm there. For example, Wang Zhen, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province is adjacent to shengze town, Wujiang City, which belongs to Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. The Beijing-Hangzhou Canal, which flows through Changzhou, Wuxi and Suzhou, the main cities in Taihu Lake Basin, has become the boundary river between Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces here. The serious problem of water pollution at the junction of Jiangsu and Zhejiang is difficult to solve by their own efforts.

(B) the contradiction between local economic interests and environmental protection

The drive of economic benefits is an important reason why it is difficult to compress the aquaculture area in the enclosure of East Taihu Lake. High-density aquaculture around the lake exchanges the resource cost and ecological environment cost of Taihu Lake for local and limited economic benefits. From the overall situation, the loss outweighs the gain. From the local point of view, it is necessary to find alternative industries, provide employment opportunities and increase farmers' income.

(C) the contradiction between industrialization, urbanization and environmental protection

Accelerating the process of urbanization and improving the speed of industrialization, industry and industrial structure are directly related to the rational utilization of Taihu Lake water resources, water environmental pollution and environmental protection, and are prone to contradictions.

To protect the ecological environment of Taihu Lake, it is necessary to establish coordination institutions and mechanisms. Under the administrative division and the existing assessment index system, it is difficult to comprehensively promote coordination. It is difficult to take refuge, and it is more realistic to choose a breakthrough.

Thirdly, developing eco-tourism around Taihu Lake is the best choice for the interaction between environmental protection of Taihu Lake and urban and rural industrial development.

It is realistic to choose an industry that is conducive to protecting the environment, increasing employment opportunities and farmers' income, and easily coordinating the interests of different administrative divisions. Taking the development of eco-tourism around Taihu Lake as the adhesive is the best choice for the common interests of environmental protection in Taihu Lake and the interaction between urban and rural industrial development.

(1) Eco-tourism is the trend of world tourism development. Eco-tourism was first proposed by Ceballas-Lascurain, a special consultant of IUCN, in 1983. Eco-tourism is "return to nature tourism", "green tourism", "protection tourism" and "sustainable development tourism". Countries all over the world have formed their own unique eco-tourism according to their own national conditions. Western tourists like to go to tropical beaches for leisure and vacation. The unique warm sunshine (sun), blue sea (sea) and comfortable beaches on the tropical seashore make tourists living in the western developed countries with serious pollution and fierce competition calm physically and mentally. As the most attractive tourist destination, "3S" has become a place that westerners yearn for. With the development of eco-tourism and the improvement of tourists' environmental awareness, western tourists have moved from "3S" to "3N", that is, to the great "nature", remembering the "Nostolgia" complex that human beings once lived in harmony with nature, and thus entering the highest spiritual realm of "nirvana" by integrating into nature. The deterioration of the environment makes people's desire to pursue health, environmental protection and sustainable development stronger. 2 1 century, eco-tourism has developed at an extraordinary speed, no matter the number of tourists or tourism income.

(2) Developing eco-tourism is a beneficial choice for industrial development in urban and rural areas around Taihu Lake. Taihu Lake is a natural pearl in the Yangtze River Delta and an invaluable treasure for developing eco-tourism. The development of eco-tourism in urban and rural areas around Taihu Lake has a unique resource advantage and a godsend opportunity.

1. Environmental benefits: The ecological environment is the source of life of eco-tourism, and the development of eco-tourism can promote the protection of the ecological environment.

2. Economic benefits: the tourism industry chain is long, which drives and provides many employment opportunities. The six elements of tourism, such as food, shelter, transportation, travel, shopping and entertainment, are a huge industry in every aspect. According to statistics, every increase in direct income of tourism 1 yuan will lead to a corresponding increase in 43 yuan of related industries. Tourism is prosperous and tourism is rich. Tourism can bring economic benefits to the cities and villagers around Taihu Lake, increase local income and obviously improve their lives.

3. Social benefits: the development of tourism will promote the construction of new socialist countryside, improve the rural environment and improve the civilized behavior of villagers.

(3) Developing ecotourism is the common interest of all parties and easy to coordinate.

Under the realistic system of administrative divisions and local interests, common needs and common interests are the glue of cooperation among all parties. Some industries, such as manufacturing, can be established independently by various localities. Some industries are limited by ordinary environmental conditions, such as tourism. This is determined by the characteristics of tourism.

1, the development of tourism requires convenient transportation and accessibility. No matter which mode of transportation (airplane, railway, highway, waterway) is bounded by administrative divisions. Only with convenient transportation, barrier-free access and "getting in and out" can all parties benefit.

2. The development of eco-tourism needs to protect the ecological environment. Purifying the environment is the common demand and desire of urban and rural people around Taihu Lake, and it has the endogenous motivation of cooperation. "Hold the green mountains and green hills, and there will be Jinshan Yinshan".

3. Pollution control and environmental protection need the joint efforts and long-term management of provincial and municipal governments and urban and rural people around Taihu Lake. Only with the joint efforts of all parties can the above-mentioned environmental pollution problems be expected to be solved step by step.

Fourth, develop multi-level and distinctive eco-tourism around Taihu Lake.

(a) the combination of large-scale high-end resorts and small and medium-sized rural resorts.

Suzhou Taihu National Tourism Resort is characterized by "Taihu Lake landscape, ancient Wu culture, bridge island scenery, pastoral interest, food vacation and amusement world", with vacation, leisure, sightseeing, rehabilitation, sports and entertainment as its main contents. Complete facilities, beautiful environment and first-class service. It can meet the needs of guests with high business expenses at home and abroad.

The development of small and medium-sized rural resorts can meet the needs of ordinary tourists for 3-5 days. There is a large demand for rural resorts, which requires high sanitary conditions, but relatively low requirements for purchasing equipment and facilities. Decentralized distribution is conducive to enjoying the original ecological leisure and holiday life nearby after visiting historical sites.

(two) the combination of large and medium-sized lakes and large and medium-sized projects.

Tourism planning, restoration and construction around Taihu Lake, Yangcheng Lake and Hucheng Lake should be combined. Develop large and medium-sized tourism projects.

(3) Combining human resources with natural scenery and ecological project development.

Tourism resources around Taihu Lake are extremely rich and of high grade, including world cultural heritage and world intangible cultural heritage. Jiangsu declared the national 5A-level tourist attractions, and four scenic spots have passed the on-site acceptance and publicity. Except Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Scenic Area, the other three scenic spots are located around Taihu Lake. They are Suzhou Humble Administrator's Garden, Zhouzhuang Town and CCTV Wuxi Film and Television Base. There are also national 4A and 3A tourist attractions.

Developing eco-tourism around Taihu Lake, so that tourists can enjoy natural scenery, natural hot springs and ecological environment while visiting historical sites and ancient towns, not only conforms to the development trend of tourism, but also has a broad market.

Discussion on establishing eco-tourism coordination meeting around Taihu Lake

(1) Establish a coordination meeting (or institution) with a certain department of the urban and rural government along the lake (or CPPCC). Development and Reform Commission, environmental protection department, planning department, tourism department and other core departments, as well as scenic enterprises, should participate to discuss the articles of association of Taihu Eco-tourism Coordination Committee.

(2) Objective: To coordinate the planning, development and construction of eco-tourism projects, reduce the negative impact of scattered project decision-making and planning and vicious competition, coordinate environmental protection and seek more benefits.

(3) Promote through common problems and agreements. Taking the common problems that need to be solved urgently at all stages as the topic, multi-level and multi-faceted personnel (officials, industries, universities) discuss and coordinate and reach a consensus (or agreement).