The province of Shandong has launched a number of measures and policies to strengthen coordination in the comprehensive management of the Yellow River basin to promote high-quality development, said local officials.

Migratory birds dwell in the Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Area in Dongying, Shandong province. [Photo/IC]

In March of this year, the "Implementation Plan for Ecological Protection and High-quality Development of the Yellow River Basin in Shandong province" was issued, while nine special plans for ecology, water conservancy, as well as cultural development in the Yellow River basin have been basically completed.

To promote the implementation of the plan, Shandong has set up leading groups at the three levels of provinces, cities, as well as counties to promote ecological protection and the high-quality development of the Yellow River basin.

Shandong has planned more than 500 major projects concerning ecological conservation and the high-quality development of the Yellow River, such as the Yellow River Estuary National Park, a Weichai supporting industrial park, as well as the water-saving agriculture project in the Yellow River irrigated area.

This year, Shandong has implemented 390 major projects in 10 areas, including ecological protection of the Yellow River basin, with a total investment of 1.5 trillion yuan ($231.6 billion).

In mid-May, Shandong and Henan provinces signed an ecological protection compensation agreement.

It was the first inter-provincial ecological compensation agreement for the Yellow River Valley between Shandong and Henan, which defines specific compensation standards. It will also enable people to recognize the operation mode of inter-provincial ecological compensation and the necessity of trans-regional governance of rivers.

Shandong is also building a green ecological corridor along the lower reaches of the Yellow River, with a total investment of 42.7 billion yuan in 93 projects, covering wetland protection and restoration, biodiversity protection, as well as ecological restoration and protection of beaches and lakes.