Environmental development and governance in western China since 2000: a case from Guizhou Province

This paper adopts political ecology as an analytical framework, along with a case study approach, to assess environmental development and governance in western China under China’s Western Development Strategy. This study of the Beipan River Basin, Guizhou Province, revealed that not only has environmental quality in the Basin improved, but public awareness and local governments’ willingness regarding environmental protection have been enhanced since the year 2000. Challenges remain. Future environmental effort in western China demands a long term and holistic approach including: financial investment and law enforcement by central and local government, public participation, and the capacity building of local governments.