Shanxi Changyuanhe National Wetland Park Construction Project Financed by AFD

Employer: Management Committee for Shanxi Changyuanhe National Wetland Park

The restoration project of the Qixian wetlands is a Franco-Chinese collaboration overseen by the management Committee of the Shanxi Changyuanhe National Wetland Park. The project is financed by the French Agency of Development (AFD).The restoration project of the Qixian wetlands is a Franco-Chinese collaboration overseen by the management Committee of the Shanxi Changyuanhe National Wetland Park. The project is financed by the French Agency of Development (AFD). 

The site is situated at the heart of the plateau of loess in the province of Shanxi. The focus of the project is the restoration of the Changyuanhe River wetlands and the preservation of its biodiversity. In addition to the ecological achievements the proposed project also strengthens local development. 

The Changyuanhe River National Wetlande Park is host to a diverse range of ecological habitats including rivers, swamps, ponds, marshes, and forests. Upstream of the park is the provincial forest reserve of Sixiannao. These two protected zones belong to the watershed of the river whose surface reaches 101,116 hectares. This area plays a critical role for the environment and establishes an essential ecological corridor for the region. In recent years the river has been degraded by human activities such as sand quarries that have seriously altered the riverbed and wetlands. This resulted in a heavily degraded ecological state and a disturbed hydrological cycle confronted with extreme periods of drought and flooding. 

It is crucial to develop a global and comprehensive project that focuses on the three main continuity issues of the river while at the same time addresses the essential points of the river that gave the district of Qixian its former prosperity.It is crucial to develop a global and comprehensive project that focuses on the three main continuity issues of the river while at the same time addresses the essential points of the river that gave the district of Qixian its former prosperity.

Previously the river played a decisive historical and cultural role in the life of the district of Qixian, especially in terms of its prosperity. This role was even nationally and internationally significant because of the importance of the ancient tea route. The future constructions of this project while being contemporary must evoke the past and restore a cultural connection.

 

1. HYDRAULIC CONTINUITY

All of the scientific and historical writings we consulted always speak of permanent water areas with vast wetlands into the water. It is therefore the first objective that I have chosen: to make a permanent areas of wetland to create real “biodiversity and permanent areas”. In order to regulate the flow of water a system of valves and dams has been prepared for the project. These mechanisms will ensure fluid water circulation while providing a better storage of water throughout the year for the strategic areas of biodiversity. All of the scientific and historical writings we consulted always speak of permanent water areas with vast wetlands into the water. It is therefore the first objective that I have chosen: to make a permanent areas of wetland to create real “biodiversity and permanent areas”. In order to regulate the flow of water a system of valves and dams has been prepared for the project. These mechanisms will ensure fluid water circulation while providing a better storage of water throughout the year for the strategic areas of biodiversity. 

This fabric creates ideal growing conditions for the plantings by ensuring that they are provided with the necessary soil moisture for their development. The rapid greening of the intermediate section of the riverbed is my second goal. This is also essential for other activities (ecological tourism) so they can quickly start up and develop.

For the protection of the riverbanks, I plan to employ a combination of different interventions commonly used in Western countries in order to create visual and ecological diversity in the landscape. The current solutions in place are disappointing because the results have rendered the landscape artificial and too uniform. In accordance with today’s modern methods and techniques, gabion solutions and stones will only be used punctually in areas with high risk of erosion.

Concerning the gentle slopes that are slightly exposed, I plan to use ecological solutions with vegetated coconut fiber mats held in place with live willow stakes. These are well known and effective methods that will create a beautiful local landscape.

The essential point is that we must treat the entire riverbed and leave nothing aside as the ecological and hydraulic impacts are too important to do otherwise. This is why the project has been worked on at a detailed scale for the entire river and is included in the "ecological restoration" construction details of the river.

The treatment of the entire riverbed is an essential point that cannot be compromised. 

 

2. ECOLOGICAL CONTINUITY

The destruction and the hydraulic disorganization of the river today has deeply impoverished the ecological and economic wealth of the river. Contrary to the current condition of the river ancient texts speak of many species of fish and an abundance of water for agricultural land. In this project, we plan to reinstill this great diversity of ancient fish by restoring the continuity of fish circulation between the sources of the river in the mountains and the downstream portion which joins "Fen River." Moreover, we also plan to transform an old existing fish farm into a “fish breeding" basin and an "ecological fishery for sturgeon." Ecological continuity will also be ensured by the use of many local species of trees and shrubs. The objective is therefore to replace the landscapes highly dominated by poplars with a great diversity of species.

 

3. CULTURAL CONTINUITY

The project plans to also express the rich heritage of Qixian. The district has a traditional architecture of the highest quality that we decided to evoke in the forms of the eco-museum. This historical architecture will be used as inspiration for the forms of the multiple windows that are traditionally used in a classic Chinese garden. The river was also in the past the road of tea.  The project plans to also express the rich heritage of Qixian. The district has a traditional architecture of the highest quality that we decided to evoke in the forms of the eco-museum. This historical architecture will be used as inspiration for the forms of the multiple windows that are traditionally used in a classic Chinese garden. The river was also in the past the road of tea.

The eco-museum design is a reinterpretation of the closed "court yards" typical of "Qixian", that includes a large welcoming space with a large garden and the pavilions of the museum. The traditional Chinese garden was reinterpreted in a contemporary form that accentuates the windows and openings that characterizes the traditional Chinese garden to honor the local poet Wang Wei.

The museum brings together an architectural vocabulary that I have applied across the valley. The design for the urban furniture and the communication panels reuses the same materials, windows and forms extracted from the concept for the eco-museum. Thus the concept of classic architectural heritage is reflected in every detail of the development project.

The people who visit and discover the river are also being connected to the rich heritage and the history of Qixian. For me, everything is connected and the river will become ounce again a new source of economic prosperity (especially through eco-tourism) if we express in our project the rich history of Qixian.

 

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