Framework and pathways for the protection and governance of rivers and lakes based on river ethics
TONG Xuewei
LI Aihua
Abstract：Constructing river ethics and reshaping the relationship between humans and rivers is an innovative concept of river governance proposed in China's long-term water management practices.Guiding the protection and governance of rivers and lakes with river ethics is of great significance for promoting the harmonious coexistence between humans and rivers.Centered on the concept of endowing rivers and lakes with life in the new era of water governance,and guided by river ethics,a progressive logical chain of"cognition-respect-care-development"is proposed for river and lake protection and governance,and the action framework is analyzed from four aspects:cognition,respect,care,and development.The framework helps to correctly understand rivers as living entities,thereby respecting their rights as life forms,maintaining river and lake health by caring for their life signs,and enhancing their diverse values and life dignity through development,ultimately forming a new governance pattern aligned with river ethics.Specific implementation measures are proposed in four aspects:fully recognizing the life attributes of rivers and lakes,fully respecting the life of rivers and lakes,caring for their healthy life,and enhancing their life value.These measures aim to provide a systematic action plan for maintaining the healthy life of rivers and lakes under the framework of river ethics and contribute to modern water governance practices that promote human-water harmony and sustainable development.
Keywords：river ethicslife of rivers and lakesprotection and governance of rivers and lakeshuman-water harmony
Publication Date：2025-07-30
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 18-22 )