ZHENG Yisheng was Senior Research Fellow, Deputy Director, Center for Environment and Development, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and professor, Institute of Quantitative and Technical Economics, CASS. His books include Deep Worries: Issues of Sustainable Development in Contemporary China 《深度忧患-当代中国的可持续发展问题》, China Development and Environment Review (Vol. 3) 《中国环境与发展评论(第三卷)》, Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Western China 《中国西部减贫与可持续发展》, Rangeland and the Market: Rangeland Economics 《牧区与市场——牧民经济学》. Liang FAN has been Deputy Chief Editor in the International Division of Social Sciences Academic Press, a publishing wing of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, since August, 2012. Fan’s previous positions including Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, College of Technology Management, National Tsinghua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Researcher, ChangCe Thinktank, Beijing, Project Specialist, Adapting to Climate Change in China, a China-Swiss-UK collaboration project undertaken by the Institute for Urban and Environmental Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Liang Fan holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the City University of New York.

• Foreword viiZheng YuxinList of Figures and Tables xiList of Contributors xiv1 Introduction: China’s Environment and Development Challenges 1Zheng Yisheng2 Understanding Environmental Pollution in China: An Analysis ofIts Key Features 21Guo Xiaomin3 China’s Forest Quality: The Missing Agenda 51Shen Xiaohui4 The Ecological Impact of Institutions and Policies on the InnerMongolian Steppe Ecosystem 69Dalintai5 Understanding China’s Ecological Restoration Projects: A Study of theGrain for Green Program 87Xu Jintao, Jiang Xuemei and Yi Fujin6 Water Scarcity in China 99Chen Shaojun7 A New Approach to Conservation in Western China 117Shen Xiaoli, Li Shengzhi and Lü Zhi8 Natural versus Human Disturbances of Old-growth Forests 141Shen Xiaohui, Piao Zhengji9 Protecting Biodiversity by Means of Promoting Cultural Diversity:A Case Study of the Reindeer-herding Ewenki People 161Han Nianyong10 Environmental Rule of Law in China Today 173Wang Jin and Wang Mingyuan11 Local and Central Governments: Impulsive Investments andSustainable Development 189Shen Keting12 Public Expenditure and China’s Environmental Targets 206Wu Jian and Ma Zhong13 Green GDP Accounting Research in China: Looking Back andForward 213Wang Jinnan, Yu Fang, Jiang Hongqiang, and Cao Dong14 Green GDP Accounting in China: Controversies and Progress 230Gao Minxue15 Environmental Resource Allocation: Inefficiency and Inequity 245Zhang Shiqiu16 Ecological Values and Capitalism 258Lu Feng17 Water Scarcity, Water Transfer and Water Trade in China 268Zhang Xiao18 Water Rights: A Legal Analysis 293Zhao Hongmei and Chen Jie19 Breaching Barriers: Chinese Environmental NGOs Come of Age 311Fu TaoIndex 331

ZHENG Yisheng was Senior Research Fellow, Deputy Director, Center for Environment and Development, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and professor, Institute of Quantitative and Technical Economics, CASS. His books include Deep Worries: Issues of Sustainable Development in Contemporary China 《深度忧患-当代中国的可持续发展问题》, China Development and Environment Review (Vol. 3) 《中国环境与发展评论(第三卷)》, Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Western China 《中国西部减贫与可持续发展》, Rangeland and the Market: Rangeland Economics 《牧区与市场——牧民经济学》. Liang FAN has been Deputy Chief Editor in the International Division of Social Sciences Academic Press, a publishing wing of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, since August, 2012. Fan’s previous positions including Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, College of Technology Management, National Tsinghua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Researcher, ChangCe Thinktank, Beijing, Project Specialist, Adapting to Climate Change in China, a China-Swiss-UK collaboration project undertaken by the Institute for Urban and Environmental Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Liang Fan holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the City University of New York.

• Foreword viiZheng YuxinList of Figures and Tables xiList of Contributors xiv1 Introduction: China’s Environment and Development Challenges 1Zheng Yisheng2 Understanding Environmental Pollution in China: An Analysis ofIts Key Features 21Guo Xiaomin3 China’s Forest Quality: The Missing Agenda 51Shen Xiaohui4 The Ecological Impact of Institutions and Policies on the InnerMongolian Steppe Ecosystem 69Dalintai5 Understanding China’s Ecological Restoration Projects: A Study of theGrain for Green Program 87Xu Jintao, Jiang Xuemei and Yi Fujin6 Water Scarcity in China 99Chen Shaojun7 A New Approach to Conservation in Western China 117Shen Xiaoli, Li Shengzhi and Lü Zhi8 Natural versus Human Disturbances of Old-growth Forests 141Shen Xiaohui, Piao Zhengji9 Protecting Biodiversity by Means of Promoting Cultural Diversity:A Case Study of the Reindeer-herding Ewenki People 161Han Nianyong10 Environmental Rule of Law in China Today 173Wang Jin and Wang Mingyuan11 Local and Central Governments: Impulsive Investments andSustainable Development 189Shen Keting12 Public Expenditure and China’s Environmental Targets 206Wu Jian and Ma Zhong13 Green GDP Accounting Research in China: Looking Back andForward 213Wang Jinnan, Yu Fang, Jiang Hongqiang, and Cao Dong14 Green GDP Accounting in China: Controversies and Progress 230Gao Minxue15 Environmental Resource Allocation: Inefficiency and Inequity 245Zhang Shiqiu16 Ecological Values and Capitalism 258Lu Feng17 Water Scarcity, Water Transfer and Water Trade in China 268Zhang Xiao18 Water Rights: A Legal Analysis 293Zhao Hongmei and Chen Jie19 Breaching Barriers: Chinese Environmental NGOs Come of Age 311Fu TaoIndex 331

ZHENG Yisheng was Senior Research Fellow, Deputy Director, Center for Environment and Development, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and professor, Institute of Quantitative and Technical Economics, CASS. His books include Deep Worries: Issues of Sustainable Development in Contemporary China 《深度忧患-当代中国的可持续发展问题》, China Development and Environment Review (Vol. 3) 《中国环境与发展评论(第三卷)》, Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Western China 《中国西部减贫与可持续发展》, Rangeland and the Market: Rangeland Economics 《牧区与市场——牧民经济学》. Liang FAN has been Deputy Chief Editor in the International Division of Social Sciences Academic Press, a publishing wing of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, since August, 2012. Fan’s previous positions including Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, College of Technology Management, National Tsinghua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Researcher, ChangCe Thinktank, Beijing, Project Specialist, Adapting to Climate Change in China, a China-Swiss-UK collaboration project undertaken by the Institute for Urban and Environmental Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Liang Fan holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the City University of New York.

• Foreword viiZheng YuxinList of Figures and Tables xiList of Contributors xiv1 Introduction: China’s Environment and Development Challenges 1Zheng Yisheng2 Understanding Environmental Pollution in China: An Analysis ofIts Key Features 21Guo Xiaomin3 China’s Forest Quality: The Missing Agenda 51Shen Xiaohui4 The Ecological Impact of Institutions and Policies on the InnerMongolian Steppe Ecosystem 69Dalintai5 Understanding China’s Ecological Restoration Projects: A Study of theGrain for Green Program 87Xu Jintao, Jiang Xuemei and Yi Fujin6 Water Scarcity in China 99Chen Shaojun7 A New Approach to Conservation in Western China 117Shen Xiaoli, Li Shengzhi and Lü Zhi8 Natural versus Human Disturbances of Old-growth Forests 141Shen Xiaohui, Piao Zhengji9 Protecting Biodiversity by Means of Promoting Cultural Diversity:A Case Study of the Reindeer-herding Ewenki People 161Han Nianyong10 Environmental Rule of Law in China Today 173Wang Jin and Wang Mingyuan11 Local and Central Governments: Impulsive Investments andSustainable Development 189Shen Keting12 Public Expenditure and China’s Environmental Targets 206Wu Jian and Ma Zhong13 Green GDP Accounting Research in China: Looking Back andForward 213Wang Jinnan, Yu Fang, Jiang Hongqiang, and Cao Dong14 Green GDP Accounting in China: Controversies and Progress 230Gao Minxue15 Environmental Resource Allocation: Inefficiency and Inequity 245Zhang Shiqiu16 Ecological Values and Capitalism 258Lu Feng17 Water Scarcity, Water Transfer and Water Trade in China 268Zhang Xiao18 Water Rights: A Legal Analysis 293Zhao Hongmei and Chen Jie19 Breaching Barriers: Chinese Environmental NGOs Come of Age 311Fu TaoIndex 331