Despite increases in rural residents' overall income, China may miss some key targets in rural environmental protection.

Local governments will have to make a more serious effort to bring down discharges of chemical fertilizers to meet its goal of raising all people to moderate prosperity by 2020, according to the China Rural Development Report, released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on Wednesday.

The document said that rural development progressed steadily from 2011 to 2014, based on an evaluation system that includes economic and social development, living standards, ecology and urban-rural integration.