Ecological and Social Vulnerability Issues in the Western Route of South to North Water Transfer Project

Abstract

Western Route of South to North Water Transfer Project (Western Route Project for short) is a major infrastructure project to solve the uneven spatial and temporal distribution of water resources in West China. The ambitious water transfer project will divert water from China's longest river, the Yangtze River, to Northwest China, where water shortage has become a bottleneck restricting sustainable development. After completion, the project will relieve water shortages in over six provinces in north and Northwest China, affecting about tens of million people. At the same time, it will bring many serious ecological and social problems in the project affected areas.