Achieving Effective Water Resources Governance on the Basis of “River Chief System”

The Huangguoshu Scenic Area were established in 1980, with the Huangguoshu Waterfalls series as the core scenery which are called “Karst Waterfall Museum”. In order to protect the aesthetic value of landscape diversity, the water resources ecosystem service value, and the sustainable and harmonious development of man and nature, Guizhou Province formulated the Working Plan for the Full Implementation of the “River Chief System” in 2017, which means that the government leaders at all levels shall serve as the “River Chief”, responsible for the management and protection of the corresponding rivers, with a five-level River Chief of province, cities, counties, townships and village. The measures, such as hiring Non-governmental River Chief, establishing Dabang River Basin Management and Protection Plan, etc., have contributed to the poverty alleviation of indigenous people and obtained sufficient water resources, achieving the first and sixth goals of the Sustainable Development Goal 2030.