National Natural Disaster Reduction Plan of the People's Republic of China (1998-2010)

THE NATIONAL NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTIONPLAN OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (1998-2010) (China National Committee for IDNDR) China is one of the few countries struck most severely by many kinds of natural disasters with a high frequency of occurrence,broad distribution in ar-• eas and severe consequences in losses.Especially in 1990s,economic losses. caused by natural disasters have increased unsiderably. This has become an im­ portant factor adversely affecting our economic development and social stability. The Chinese Govemment pays close attention to the disaster reduction work and notable progress has been achieved as a result of the continuous endeavors by the Chinese people over more than 40 years.To further improve the disaster reduction work and ensure ,a sustainable social development and the smooth fulfillment of the Ninth Five-Year National Economie and Social Development Plan and the 2010 long-term objectives,it is necessary to integrate the Chinese national disaster situation with a summing-up of experiences and lessons of the past cl,isaster reduction work. lt is important to identify the guiding principles,major objectives and tasks and strategies, motivate all positive factors and resources and consequently reduce the natural disaster losses as far as possible.With this in mind,the national middle and long term disaster reduction plan is thereby formu lated. · 1. The Basic Situation of Natural Disasters and Disaster Reduction Work 1.1 A brie/ account of the natural disaster situation in China 1.1.1 There are man y kinds of ,natural disasters with a high frequency and an obvious seasonal occurrence as well as severe losses.They may be discribed speafically as follows: 1 The atmospheric and squatic disasters.They mainly include flood and water­ logging, drought, typhoon, storm-surge, big wind, hails, snowstorm, freezing, sea wave, sea ice and coastal erosion etc.The annual average areas affected by flood and water-logging are more than 10 million hectares, in which more than 5 million hectares are severely ajfected,and they mainly concentrate in summer and autumn.The annual average areas affected by drought are more than 20 million hectares,and more than 10 million hectares are severely affected mainly in spring and autumn. The annual typhoons that land the continent is about 7 tirnes which mainly concentrates along the southeastcrn coastal areas.Storrn surge is the most serious marine disaster in China,and the most hazardous storm surge in history has caused a total loss of more than 100,000 deaths.Other di­ sasters have also caused serious losses and great damages. The seismic and geological disaste:çs include earthquake, cave breakdown, landslide, mud-rock flow, subsidence and desertification etc. Chinais a coun­ try with an high occurrence of earthquaJœ. Since 1949, earthquakes have killed nearly 300,000 people, injured and disabled nearly 1,000,000 and destroyed more than 10,000,000 bouse units. In 1976, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter's scale hit Tangshan municipality which shocked the world and killed 242,000, injured and disabled 164,000. 410,000 places suffered from geological disasters such as cave breakdown, land~lide and mudrock flow, tak­ ing an annual death toll of nearly a thousand people. The area of deserted land stands at 2,620,000 square kilometres nationwide.And the desertified land an­ nually expands by 2,460 square kilometers, and the area of soil erosion exceeds 1,800,000 square kilometers. The biological disasters,the main crops pests~plant diseases,weeds and rodent disasters in China can be classified into 1,400 kinds.On average,the annual losses caused by biological disasters are 50 mil­ lion tons of grain and more than 1 million tons of cotton. The annual areas caused by grass and forest diseases, pests and rodent disasters are more than 20 million hectares and 8 million hectares respectively. Forest and grassland fires. Since 1950, an annual average of 16,000 forest fires has occurred in China, affecting nearly one million hectares of forest ar­ eas. Pires pose a threat to 2 hundred million ha of grassland,of which, nearly one hundred million ha are frequently affected. 1.1.2 The distribution of natural disasters shows an obvious regional diff eren­ tiation 2 According to the charactcristics of natural dümsters and the actual situation of disaster management at present,the 31 provinces,autonomous regions and municipalities can be divided into three types of regions. The first region includes 7 provinces,autonomous regions lying mainly in the Western and partly in the Northern China.The absolute quantity of direct eco­ nomic loss in this region is low and the relative loss ratio (the average direct economic loss as compared to the gross domestic product) is medium or high and its resistant capability to natural disasters is weak.Most areas in this region is severe drought areas in China and the density of the population is low. The hazards are mainly drought, snowstorm, earthquake, sandstorm, mountainous flood,landslide and mudrock flow,etc.These natural disasters mainly affect ag­ riculture and stock raising. The second region indûdes 16 .provinces, autonomous regions and munici­ palities which mainly locate in the central and partly in the north-eastern, northern and south-western part of China. The economic development level, the direct economic loss caused by the disaster and its resistant capability in this region is average.The northern part of this region is strongly influenced by the Antarctic anticyclone and the southem part belongs to the sub-tropical region with a higher precipitation and is also the middle reaches of China's big rivers.The density of population is medium or high in this region. The hazards are mainly drought, flood and water-logging, earthquake, freezing, hailstorm and agricultural pest and disease, and other disasters are landslide, mud-rock-flow and forest dis­ eases, etc. These natural disasters mainly affect agriculture, industry and trans­ portation. The third region includes 8 provinces and municipalities directly under the central government which range along the eastern coastal areas. The absolute quantity of disaster direct economic loss is high. However, the percentage of direct economic loss is medium or low owing to its relatively strong economy and greater capability against disasters. The subtropical high pressure and tropi­ cal cyclone have influenced this region effectively. Moreover, this region is located in the lower reaches of the big ri vers in China. Its population density is high. The major natural hazards are flood and water-logging, drought, typhoon, storm surge, and other disasters are earthquake, hailstorm and subsidence etc. The natural disasters mainly affect industry, agriculture, transport and city in~ frastructures. 1.1.3 The severe natural disaster loss has been increasingly on the rise 3 China has become one of the :few countries suffering form severe los ses caused by natunal disasters.On the average,there are about 200 million people being affected by disasters every year among whom several thousand people are ldlled. Moreover, 3 million people need to be resettled and more than 40 million ha of crops also become affected, with 3 million bouse units being collapsed. With the high-speed and sustained growth of the national economy the growing mag­ nitude of the production and the accumulation of social property, in addition to the fact that the disaster reduction work has not been able to meet the needs of our rapid economic development,the losses caused by natural disasters have been on the rise. In the price level of 1990, the annual direct economic losses caused by natural disasters are 48 billion Yuan in the 50s, 57 billion Yuan in the 60s, 59 billion Yuan in the 70s and 69 billion Yuan in the 80s,and in the 90s,the disaster losses increased more rapidly and average ariimal losses are more than 100 billion Yuan. 1.2 the major works in natural disaster reduction 1.2.1 The Chinese Government has all along regarded disaster reduction as an important undertaking for promoting social and national economic develop­ ment. while promoting the development of the national economy, the Govern- . ment has made great efforts to the disaster ·reduction work. After many years of unremitting endeavors, the rising tendency of disaster loss has been restrained, especially the deaths caused by disasters have shown a remarkable decrease and great economic and social benefits have been achieved. Disaster reduction has become an important way for guaranteeing the sustainable development of the national economy and the society and it has played an important role in promoting the rapid development of the national economy and continued so­ cial progress. 1.2.2 China has made marked progress in the construction works in disaster reduction engineering and it mainly includes engineering works beneficial to large areas along the large rivers threatened by flood and water-logging, the large crop areas threatened frequently by drought and pest and plant diseases, the major areas threatened by seismic and geological disasters and storm surge as well as the cities and towns, roads and railways threatened frequently by mud--rock flow and landslide. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, there have built a series of engineering projects, including 247 thousand 4 kilometers of flood prevention/control dikes, 84 thousand reservoirs of al1 sizes, 12 thousand kilometers of tide barrage and more than 490 thousand irrigation and drainage stations. The key engineering projects which have an important bearing on the overall disaster reduction works are:the flood prevention and control dike along the lower reaches of the Yellow River, the flood prevention and flood division project on the middle and lowe.r reaches of the Yangtze River and the comprehensive flood prevention and control project along the Huai River,and the projects which are being constructed,such as the Three Gorges Project of the Yangtze River,Xiao-liang-de Project of the Yellow River,the Fei­ lai-xia Comprehensive Hydrologie Project of the Beijiang River,etc. In thf(Jield of reinforcing seismic designing for new building and new projects in big cities and large industrial and mineral enterprises, and :~eismic strengthening of exist·­ ing building and structures lacking in earthquake resistant capability, China has reinforced and strengthened the seismic capability of 14 main railways, more than 90 key plant factories,6 major oil pipelines, 20 big oi] refinery fac­ tories and a series of key steel enterprises, super large ethyne structures and large reservoirs. There have also been many kinds of forest shelter systems and sand prevention and control projects being built up. Across the country, 6 mil­ lion ha of afforestation and 12 million ha of grass have been planted every year. The regional forest shelter belts, such as the Three-Northern Forest Shelter­ Belt, the Coastal shelter-belt system .. the forest shelter-belt on the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the plain afforestation project and the Tai­ hang Mountain greening engineering projects have been compelted which hav~ considerably enhanced the forest coverage rate. China has alim formed a com­ prehensive prevention and control syBtem for combating forest fire. Moreover, the biological disasters prevention and the control system a,.s well as the the disaster prevention bases in stock raising regions have made new progress. 1.2.3 Non-engineering works in disaster reduction have been reinforced sig­ nificantly. During the past four decades, the monitoring and forecasting system have been formed and improved constantly, including the monitoring and mea­ suring network for the hazards and their related factors and phenomenoe, the real-time information collecting and transmitting electrical system, the data processing, analysis, simulation ar1d warning system as well as the broadçast-­ ing, disseminating and service system for the forecast and warning information etc. Up to now, the country has fonned the meteorological monitoring and fore•­ casting network consisting of 2,53 .. i meteorological stations, 957 precipitation . 5. stations, 143 wireless exploiting stations for space and radar stations for wind. The constructed hydrological rnonitoring network consists of 3,006 hydrology stations, 1,107 water level me:asurement stations, 14,158 rainfall stations, 61 experimental stations and 11,179 groundwater measurement wells. The seis­ mic omen monitoring system consists of 1,300 stations. The agricultural and forest pests and diseases meaisuring network consists of more than 3,000 sta­ tions. The grassland pests and rodents measuring and reporting network con­ sists of more than 240 stations and points. Moreover, the forest and grassland fire monitoring and geologicatl hazards surveying and reporting systems have i beérl formed. To foretell and forewarn the disasters, the telephone, wireless corrimunication, television and grass-roots broadcast networks have been uti­ lized. And the improvement of forecasting,forewarning and monitoring for natu­ ral hazards has provided a dependable basis for the governments to prevent and respond to the disasters rapidly and efficiently. 1.2.4 The disaster management works have been continuously strengthened. To cope with major disasters, there have created all kinds of disaster prevention and resistance agencies and disaster monitoring, forewarning, emergency af­ fairs decision-maldng, conducting, organizing and coordinating structure. There also have formed the disasters information networks at the central, provincial, autonomous region and municipal levels. The work in classifying disaster man­ agement, quick assessment of disaster losses and the research work in disaster regionization and the statistics standard of disaster losses have been unfolded. This has put the disaster management work on a scientific and regulated basis. The central and local governments have increased disaster relief fund year by year. Once a major disaster occurs, the governments quickly arrange disaster relief materials which has ensured the basic life of the victims and helped the production and daily life to recover rapidly. The fund and grain deposit asso­ ciation organized by the local people themselves have developed quickly, ·· playing an important role in disaster relief work. The disease prevention and control network as well as the disaster mecilical assistance network have given efficient treatment to the patients, thus fundamentally bringing infectious dis­ eases under control. 1.2.5 The People's Liberation Army, Military Police Forces and reserve duty forces, officers and men in the public security as well as the militia have played an important role in disaster reduction works. As the quick response forces for " 1 l disaster reduction, they have actively involved in disaster reduction works in collaboration with the local governments. Especially in disaster rescue and re­ lief work, they play a crucial role as a main force and have made outstanding contributions. 1.2.6 China has strengthened the disaster reduction works in comprehensive coordination, scientific and technological education and international coopera­ tion. In 1989, in response to the UN call of promoting the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), the Chinese Government set up the Chinese National Committee for IDNDR (CNCIDNDR) as the inter-ministe­ rial coordination organization responsible for the formulation of policy and lines. It gives guidance to local governments in disaster reduction undertak­ ings, organizes and coordinates relevant departments and the society to pro­ mote disaster reduction work so as to further international cooperation in disas­ ter reduction. With the unfolding of the IDNDR activities, the disaster reduction work has received even greater attention by authorities at all levels and much more impe­ tus has been given to this work, thus further pushing ahead the disaster reduc­ tion work. With the joint efforts at all levels of governments and disaster man­ agement agencies, a series of disaster reduction engineering projects have been implemented. Many kinds of education measures in disaster reduction have been adopted, the training and f ostering of dis aster reduction personal has been speeded up and public awareness of disaster reduction has been enhanced greatly. Science and technology have been applied more widely in disaster reduction work, and much progress have been achieved in the research and application of all kinds of high and new technologies. Satellite, remote sensing, geographical information system and global position system etc. have been applied in many aspects of disaster reduction work, and a comprehensive capability for applica­ tion of science and technology has been created basically. A series of international cooperation programs have been implemented smoothly. International exchanges in disaster reduction legislation,the disaster reductio:n plan for earthquake resistance in the cities, a comprehensive study on disaster reduction, the building up of government capability in disaster reduc­ tion etc. have made new progress. 1.3 The Main Experiences and Problems Our main experiences in disaster reduction work over the past 40 years may be 7 summed upas follows: 1.3.1 Great attention and strong support from all levels of the government is an important prerequisite for the continuous development of disaster reduction work. The central and local governments have taken as the basic objective the reduction of the disaster deaths and property losses as well as the ensurance of the economic growth and social stability, paying close attention and giving strong support to this work. On the basis of a unified organization and coordi­ nation, a great quantity of fund and resources have been provided for disas.ter reduction engineering project construction and for disaster resistance and re­ lief. And the, disaster reduction tasks have been incorporated into the middle and long-term national economic and social development plan and the annual plan.AH these have ensured a continuous and positive development for the di­ saster reduction work. 1.3.2 The coordination and cooperation among related agencies and the wide participation of the whole people is a sure guarantee for doing a good job in disaster reduction work.ln the large scale engineering projects construction for disaster reduction, disaster resistance and relief and post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation, the close coordinat.ion and cooperation among related agencies and the joint efforts of the People's Liberation Army, the Military Police Force, the Reserve Duty Force, the office and men in public security and the Militia Force as well as the wide participation of the people have ensured the smooth fulfillment of all the tasks. 1.3.3 Stressing the main points while looking after the common points and forming an overall plan have become a principle which should be observed in disaster reduction work.With limited fund resources, it is necessang to reasonably arrange all disaster reduction resources and integrate disaster reduction with benefit creation. Efforts should be made to put prevention first and integrate disaster prevention, resistance and relief. Make priority arrangement of the disaster reduction engineering projects which have an important significance to the economic and social development.Moreover,the natural disasters which threaten the safety of people' s life and property and social economic development most seriously should be treated as focal points in our work. 1.3.4 Giving full play to science,technology and education has become a strong 8 force to push forward the disaster reduction work. lt is important to strengthen disaster reduction scientific research, speed up the application of disaster re­ duction scientific achievement, quicken disastet management modernization level and use high technologies more widely. And in this way, science and technology benefits in disaster reduction have been developed fully and the comprehensive capability in disaster reduction has been improved. We must strengthen disaster reduction education, disseminate disaster reduction knowl­ edge and undertake disaster reduction training. The enhancement of public awareness of disaster reduction has laid a foundation for furthering disaster reduction work. 1.3.5 Strengthening the building-up of a legal system has become an objective demand for the smooth development of disaster reduction undertaking. The establishment ofthe disaster reduction law and regulation system and the for­ mulation of related laws, regulations, codes and plans, have served to institu­ tionalize and legalize the disaster reduction work. Although great achievements have been made in China' s diaster reduction work, there still exists some problems calling for our attention.The main prob­ lems are: the existing disaster reduction facilities cannot meet the demands of the rapid national economic development. The disaster reduction plans at vari­ ous levels of governments have not been formulated systematically and in a standardised way and the disaster reduction laws and regulations have yet to be perfected. The hazards assessment technologies and measures are still rela­ tively backward and exploitation and application of the disaster reduction sci­ entific and technological achievements should be strengthened.The disaster rescue equipment are still backward, the preservation of disaster relief materi­ als have to be improved and the capability of disaster emergency response has yet to be enhanced. Moreover, it is necessary to further strengthen publicity and education on disaster reduction. In order to ensure a sustainable development of the national economy and bring about an overall social progress, the disaster reduction work should be given greater attention along with the rapid development of the economy. And in this way the strategic objectives of China's national economy and sucial progress can be attained. 2. Main Guiding Principles, Objectives, Tasks and Measures of Disaster Reduction . 9 2.1 Guiding Policies of Disaster Reduction Disaster reduction must serve the national economic and social development. Sustained and stable economic development and social progress are the basis for deepening disaster reduction. On the other hand, a continuous strengthen­ ing of disaster reduction will provide a guarantee for the economic develop •" ment and social progress. Relationship between disaster reduction and eco nomic construction must be handled properly. The principle of giving paralled attention to both disaster reduction and economic construction should be ad­ hered to. lt is essential to pay more attention to disaster prevention and combine pre­ vention with resistance and rescue.Raising the people' s consciousness of disas­ ter. reduction is also important.In the construction of production.and living fa­ cilities, attention should be given to disaster reduction. It is necessary to apply various tedmiques and measures of disaster reduction and vigorously push for­ ward integrated disaster reduction. It is important to give full play to overall benefit of various disaster reduction engineering and push forward disaster defense, resistance and rescue work in.a comprehensiye way. Controlling the overall situation and highlighting important points are essen-, tial. Efforts should be made to solve major problems related to overall disaster reduction. The limited resources must be pooled together to strengthen engi:­ neering construction of disaster reduction in key regions,and make especial efforts for mitigating impact of the most serious disasters that are likely to ef­ fect national economic and social development. Effective ways must be sought to . reduce other natural disasters. We must give full play to the role of sciemce,technology and education for disaster reduction and strengthen the study of basic theory and applicable technology for disaster reduction.Accelerate the pr9cess oftra,nsforming scientific research results into disaster reduction capa­ bilities. Improve the overall capability for disaster reduction, education of disas­ ter redu~tion must be orientated to the society. Combining popular education with professional education in this regard is important. And the people's .knowl-­ edge of disaster reduction,should be enhanced. We must bring every positive factor into play.Giving full play to initiatives of the Central Government, local governments and all trades and professions is something that should be done well. Under the unified arrangement and coordination of the government with support from related departments, enterprises and all circles of the society are to be actively involved, so as to do disaster reduction work well. 10 To strengthen international cooperation for disaster reduction is another im­ portant aspect. Strengthening international cooperation by various channels and levels for disaster reduction is essential. We must continue to improve ourdi­ saster reduction work and improve China' s position in the field of international disaster reductio.n. 2.2 Main Objectives of Disaster Reduction The main objectives of disaster reduction are: Through the construction of a set of disaster reduction engineering works which have an overall and key im­ portance for national economic and social development,scientific and techno­ logical achievements will be widely applied in disaster reduction, a fairly per­ fect operation mechanism of disaster reduction will be formed to reduce impact ofvarious disasters on the national economic and social development, signifi­ cantly decrease the relative propotion of disaster losses, and bring about a no­ table reduction in the number of deaths and wounded people. 2.2.1 Disaster reduction for agriculture and rural areas Implement the policy of putting agriculture on the top of the national eco­ nomic and social development, set up a perfect infrastructure system for agri­ cultural disaster reduction. Basically solve the flood probltem of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, effectively control flood of other rivers;mitigate serious water shortage in parts of North China. Basically control the accelerat­ ing tendency of soil erosion, desertification, soil secondary salinity and grass­ land degradation.Capabilities of defense disaster for agriculture must reach the level of resisting medium natural disasters. Science and technology on disaster reduction must be widely applied. Capabilities of integrated disastèr reduction must be greatly improved. Capabilities of disaster defense in villages and town­ ship enterprises must also reach sim}lar levels. Through the construction of integrated agricultural disater defense and resistance engineering, we are aim­ ing at raising the capabilities of disaster reduction in agriculture, bringing down losses in agriculural production and death rate as well as that of the wounded in rural areas. 2.2.2 Disaster reduction for industry and urban areas. Basically carry out integrated disaster reduction plans of cities and towns above the county level thioughout the whole country. Cities and their buildings and facilities must meet the require disaster defense standards. Various disasters threatening the . 11. development of industrial production and city security must be brought under effective control. In as much as major cities and towns, industrial bases,lifeline projects and key enterprises have greater capabilities of fighting relatively big dis asters infrastructures and various lifelines in major cities are to be free from the advers effects of a medium or minor disaster and are in a position to have a recovery within a short time in case of a major disaster. 2.2.3 Regional disaster reduction. Basically establish a rather good integrated regional disaster reduction system. Disaster reduction engineering and regional economic construction are to be carried out simultaneously. Disaster losses of key regions are to be significantly decreased.Disaster reduction plan of the high­ risk regions are to be implemented. Development of resources are to be system­ atically managed. Man-made secondary disasters are to be effectively controlled. Successful experiences of disaster reduction are to be widely popularized in areas with similar conditions. The integrated disaster reduction capabilities will therefore be improved markedly. 2.2.4 Disaster reduction for the society.Basically introdues a national law and regulation system for disaster reduction.Widely popularize disaster reduction education of various forms. Notably raise the people's consciousness for disas­ ter reduction. Teams of science, technology and education for disaster r~duc­ tion are to meet the requirements at various levels. Disaster monitoring system and information system will be further improved. Capabilities of disaster prepa­ ration and rescue will be strengthened. Insurance will become an important way for disaster compensation. Science and technology on disaster reduction will be widely applied.The government's capabilities of disaster reduction will be not ably improved. An integrated system of a modernised disaster reduction management from the central to the local governments will corne into being. As a result, China's non-engineering construction of disaster reduction will be close to or gradually reach world advanced level. 2.2.5 International cooperation on disaster reduction. We must extensively take part in international activities for disaster reduction,and put bilateral and multi­ lateral international exchange and cooperation, on a regular basis so as to make a contribution towards promoting a sustainable development of world disaster reduction activities. 12 · 2.3 Major Tasks and Measures of Disaster Reduction The major tasks of disaster reduction are:In accordance with the overall task and policies and the general plan for national economic and social develop­ ment, redoubled efforts must be made to accelerate the engineering and non­ engineering construction, to improve the operating mechanism of disaster re­ duction, and raise the general level of disaster reduction in China, in order to bring about an all-round development of China's disaster reduction. With a view to completing the tasks,the following measures will be taken: 2.3.1 Make sure that disaster reduction should be regarded as a foundation in the sustainable national economk and social development in China.Government at varions levels must pay more attention to disaster reduction, incorporate it into the national economic and social development plan, map out disaster re­ duction scheme as well as emergency scheme and take measures to push for­ ward disaster reduction work. 2.3.2 Identify the focal points in disaster reduction. Make large and medium cities, main engineering with overall and key importance to the national eco­ nomic and social development and flood and drought disasters affecting the whole China or large regions as the focal points of our work. Concentrate supe­ rior strength to reduce disaster losses and its impact on the national economy. 2.3.3 Improve management mechanism of the national disaster reduction step by step. The disaster reduction coordinating organizations at rninistries level of the State Council must improve the integrated coordinating capabilities for di­ saster redu~io,n.Function at sectors of the State Council must take their own responsibilities, cooperate closely, work in coodination so as to do a good job.Clarify responsibilities of the Centual Government and local governments in disaster reduction. Carry out disaster management at different levels.and set up an improved integrated management system of disaster reduction gradually. 2.3.4 Give full play to modern science and technology to raise China's capabil­ ity of integrated disaster reduction.Especially, we must strengthen monitoring and forecast of major disasters,improve disaster information collection and rapid processing, evaluate disaster properly and build mechanisrn for disaster reduc­ tion information sharing. Improve regulation for material store system and trans­ fer. Further strengthen research on integrated disaster reduction, and ra1se · 13 · emergency capabilities for disaster defense. 2.3.5 Strengthen the building-up of a legal system on disaster reduction. Vigor­ ously carry out research on disaster reduction legislation, improve and perfect law and regulation system on disaster reduction in order to make disaster re­ duction work more institutionalised and standardized. 2.3.6 Investment sources must be expanded and input at disaster reduction in­ creased. The investment from governments at various level for disaster reduc­ tion must be in conf ormity with the national economic and social development. The investment is to be increased as our national power grows.lt is important to encourage enterprises to enhance disaster defense and participate in local con­ struction of disaster reduction; lt is essential to give full play to the role of insurance in disaster compensation; We must display the fine tradition of "di­ saster from one side, rescue from all directions"; Mutual help and mutual relief among the people should be strengthened. Efforts should be made to establish a socialised mechanism for disaster relief and rescue. 3. Important Actions on Disaster Reduction 3.1 Disaster Reduction for Agriculture and Rural Areas In engineering for disaster reduction,it is important to strengthen control of major ri vers and lakes,and construct a set of key water conservancy projects with integrated benefit for disaster reduction capable of fighting the biggest flood ever occurred since 1949. Build agricultural infrastructure focusing on farmland water conservancy. Vigorously disseminate agricultural.t~chnologies for dry land based on water saving and moisture maintaining.Improve capabili­ ties of flood defense, drought resistance and waterlogging drainage.Focus on soil conservation and environment improvement,continue to carry out engineering of shelter-forest in "the Three-North"(North-east China, North China and North-west China), middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the coastal line, afforestation on the Taihang Mountain, and desertification protec­ tion; trengthen integrated defense of biological disasters, and storm, orest and grassland fire and livestock diseases, and snow disaster, undertake construc­ tion of integrated disaster reduction engineering in regions where township enterprises have a high density. In non-engineering disaster reduction, carry out the national agricultural ri i 1 1 '! i i i i' 1 disaster reduction plan;edit agricultural disaster reduction regionalization. Build a set of demonstration areas on dissemination and application of practical tech­ niques to agricultural disaster reduction. Enhance monitoring and prediction on disaster weather, major insect hazard, livestock diseases, forest and grass­ land fire; Establish and improve the test and report system of natural agricul­ tural disasters as well as a disaster evaluation system. 3.2 Disaster Reduction for Industry and Cities In engineering for dis aster reduction, construct key engineering wcll for de-: fense of flood, earthquake, typhoon, windstorm, landslide, debris flow, col­ lapse, subside and fire. Effectively raise the disaster defense ;ind resistance level of large and medium industrial bases, main lines of communication and transportation, important facilities and lifeline engineering. Improve the disas­ ter defense system of enterprises strengthen the constrution of disaster reduc­ tion of ente1:prises. and the administration of dangerous sources, and control occurrence pf secondary disaster. Every city's building and facility must reach the natio'n~l disaster defense design standard, main flood defense cities must complete the required engineering. Other cities with the task of flood preven­ tion must raise their flood prevention capabitilies. In non-engineering disaster reduction, draw up an industrial disaster reduc­ tion plan for various trades and an integrated disaster reduction plan for cities. Strengthen the construction of a system guaranteeing the city's lifeline and that of an emergency response system. Raise the fire control level for modern build­ ings and facilities. 3.3 Regional Disaster Reduction In engineering disaster reduction, comprehensively strengthen disaster re­ duction construction in East China, take regional disaster reduction projects as an important infrastructure, with an emphasis on the capital circle, the coastal developed areas, dense-populated areas major food and cotton producing ar­ eas. In the centeal pant of China, mainly construct disaster reductioÎl projects for industrial and agricultural production bases and cities. In west China, mainly construct disaster reduction projects for basic infrastructure and agricultural and livestock production bases, protect an environment for suvvival and devel­ opment. In non-engineering disaster reduction, identify high risk disaster areas in a scientific way, and draw up an integrated plan for disaster reduction and 15 resource utilization. Select some high risk areas which have great impact on regional economic and social development and are highly developed in indus­ trial and agricultural production to establish demonstration areas of integrated · disaster reduction, In coordination with the state strategy for poverty elimina­ tion, great efforts should the made to push forward the work of integrated di­ saster reduction in poor areas with frequent disasters and accelerate the speed in eliminating poverty. 3.4 Disaster Reduction of the Society We must strengthen national microscopie administration on disaster reduc­ tion, accelerat e legislative process for disaster reduction, work out integrated disaster reduction plans of each province, autonomous region and municipality directly under the Central Government. Draw up disaster risk regionalization. Raise the level of collectiing, processing, applying and sharing of the inte- . grated information of disaster reduction. Improve the forecasting and monitor­ ing system for major disasters. and the comprehensive ability for disaster re­ duction Draw up the an emergency scheme for major natural disasters. Improve the disaster emergency command, dispatch and communication system. Estab­ lish and perfect the storage system for disaster rescue materials. Carry out a comprehensive evaluation on disasters and establish a scientific,system of di­ saster evaluation. Through news medium, various kinds of magazines, and performances, widely disseminate disaster reduction. Enchance the people's consciousness of disas­ ter reduction. Deepen the disaster reduction education in primary and second­ ary schools, and extend professional education of disaster reduction at diff erent levels. Improve professional capabilities of disaster managerial personnel. En­ hance scientific research on disaster reduction. Pay great attention to the basic theory research on space-time distribution law of disaster formation, occurence and development, and on the disaster inpacts on enviroment, economy, society and interaction law.Vigorously push forward studies on applicable sciences and high technology to prevent disasters. speed up the transfer of scientific and technological achievements for disaster reduction, widely push forward the application of scientific technology and high technologies such as satellite, remote sensing, geographical information system,and global position system to reduce disasters. Establish a disaster insurance system.Encourage enterprises and indiveduals to take disaster insurance. Strengthen capabilities of the soci­ ety to enduce disaster impact. Actively and constanty push forward social 16 donations. Encourage the people to support and help each other. Encourage various organizations to widely participate in the work of disaster reduction. Take practical measures to help the special groups of people in the society such as the aged, the children and the handicapped to improve capabilities to resist dlisasters. Improve medical system of the Central Government and local gov­ ernments. Raise capabilities of medical organizations for emergency and disas­ ter resistance. 3.5 International Cooperation for Disaster Disaster Reduction In the disaster reduction of major engineering projects,we encourage the in­ troduction of import investment and advanced technology.Build up various kinds of demonstration areas and engineering projects of disaster reduction through diff erent kinds of cooperation. In the disaster reduction of non-engineering projects.we vigorously push for­ ward international cooperation on the disaster reduction capabillity of the gov­ ernment, information exchange, dissemination, education and personnel train­ ing, scientific research, technological development and international humani­ tarian aids. Strengthening international cooperation in disaster reduction is an important task of China's disaster reduction. The Chinese Government welcomes international organizations, governmensts of various countries, social groups and individuals to participate in the construction of disaster reduction of China. We will fully engage ourselves in the exchange and coopertion with other countries in the fields of personnel, investment, and technology etc. We will take an active part in international activities for disaster reduction and continue to work together with the international èommunity for a more secure 21 cen­ tury. ( Note: The plan does not include the Hongkong Special Administrative Region,Taiwan Province and the Macao Region. ) Appendix 1. Projects of Disaster Reduction Now Under Way 1. Three-gorge Dam of the Yangtze River 2. Afforestation of the Taihang Mountains 3. The Third Stage of" the Three-North" Shelter Forest System 4. Shelter Forest System in the Middle and Upper Reaches Areas of the Yangtze River 5. Sand Defense and Control of China 6. Shelter Forest System along the Coastal Line 7. Integrated Development of Grassland 8. Disaster Defense and Reduction for Di,saster Sensitive Pastoral Areas 9. Soil Erosion Defense and Control of China 10. Dam of Xiaolangdi of the Yellow River 11. Harnessing of the Huaihe River 12. Integrated Harnessing of the Taihu Lake 13. Monitoring Network of Major Diseases,Insects and Mice for Crops 14. Research Plan and Situation of Disaster and Insect of Crops 15. Harnessing of Dangerous Rock in Lianzi Cliff and Landslide in Huangla of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River 16. Defense and Control of Major Geologcal Disaster in China 17. Barth quake Resistance for Newly-built Engineering projects and Fix for Present Non-protected Buildings, Engineering Facilities and Equipment 18. Regional Plan of Integ~ated Eàrthquake Defense System for Northwest of Beijing,Shanxi-Hebei-Inner Mongolia Area,and the Yangtze River De1!a in Jiangsu 19. Basic Research on City's Engiueering Disaster Reduction 20. Professional System for Prediction and Alarm of Earthquake 21. Monitoring and Track in the key Earthquake Monitoring and Defense Regions 22. Digital Earthquake Network, Information Network, Spatial Geotectonical Deformation Monitoring Network 23. Emergency Schemes taken before and during earthquake 24. Research on,New Technology and Countermeasures for Reduction of Earthquake in China 18 .1 25. Disaster Remote Sensing Monitoring and Evaluation 26. Technology for Preventing Earthquake of Engineering Structure and Used Energy Technology for Reduction of Earthquake 27. Construction of Monitoring,Prediction and Alarm system for Forest Diseases and Insect Disaster 28. Monitoring and Prediction for Forest Pire 29. China's Monitoring Center for Land Degradation 30. National Disaster Management System 31. Prediction and Alarm System for Marine Disaster 32. Professional Monitoring,Prediction and Alarm System of Marine Disaster 33. Construction of Medical Emergency Management System for Disasters Appendix 2. Optional Projects of Disaster Reduction 1. Monitoring and Alarm System for Drought 2. Monitoring, Prediction, Service and Evaluation for Disastrons Weather 3.Controlling and Reducing Diseae andinsect Damages, and Supporting Plant Protection in the Old Liberated, Minority Nationality, Remote, and Poverty Regions 4. Plant Quarantine Center for Forest in South China 5. Research on Artificial Rail Prevention (Rain Increase )and Agricultural Insurance for Disaster Reduction 6. Earthquake Monitoring,Disaster Prerdicting and Emergency Measures in Chian and key Regions 7. China's Center of Natural Disaster Reduction 8. Storage,Transportation and Management of Rescue Material in China 9. Legislation and lmplementation of Disaster Reduction in China 10. Edition of Natural Disaster Regionalization and Integrated Disaster Reduction Regionalization of China 11. Cost-Effect Analysis of Investment in Disaster Reduction and Prevention 12. Short-term-prediction and Evaluation for Major Meteorological Disasters and Their Application System 13. Research on Monitoring,Prediction and Reduction of Typhoon and Storm Disaster 14. Research and Manufacturing of Universal Computer Software for Disaster lnf ormation 19 .. 15. Emergency Communication System for Disaster Reduction 16. Construction of Rescue System of pre Hospital Treatment 17. Establishment of Marine Disaster Evaluation System 18. Research on Division and Countermeasures of Natural Disaster Insurance in China 19. Disaster Reduction Dissemination of China 20. Construction of Education and Training Bases of Disaster Reduction of China 21. Emergency Broadcast and Television System for Disaster Reduction 22. National Command System of Flood Prevention and Drought Resistance 23. Construction of Monitoring and Predicting System and Disaster Evalvation System of Geoloqical Disaster 24. Demonstration of Integrated Disaster Reduction for Urbanization Areas in the Delta of the Yangtze River 25. Research on Integrated Dis aster Reduction in the High Risk Regions of China 26. Research on the Cost-effect Assessment of the Water Conservancy Project and countermeasures of Disaster Reduction of the Huaihe River 27. Beijing's Disaster Reduction Plan,Integrated Information System and Database 28. Demonstration of Integrated Defense and Control of Landslide and Debris Flow in Yunnan Province 29. Dis aster Reduction Inf ormation,Emergency Rescue and Training Center of Anhui Province 30. Marine Security,Disaster Prevention and Detection and Rescue Center of Shandong Province 31. Pre-Alarm and Emergency Rescue System of catastrophic floods in the Dongting Lake Area, Hunan Province 32. Emergency Center of Snow and Ice Freeze Injury of Tibet Autonomous Region 33. Construction of Integrated Disaster Reduction Demonstration Areas around the Bohai Sea 34. Construction of Integrated Disaster Reduction Demonstration Areas of Dezhou, Shandong Province 35. Construction of Integrated Disaster Reduction Demonstration Areas of Baoji City, Shanxi Province 36. Disaster Reduction Center of Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province 20 A 1 : 1 This plan wàs approved by the State Council on April 29, 1998 1i