Positive ecological change, driven by pioneering and accountable policy making, remains a continued national priority and drew significant attention at the fifth session of the 12th National People's Congress. One such initiative, discussed at a press briefing on March 9 given by Fujian province deputies to the National People's Congress, was the river chief system launched at the end of 2016 as a national strategy for water resource protection, shoreline management and ecological restoration.

Here we examine the impact and functions of one policy cleaning up China's waterways through the thoughts of the national legislators from Fujian.

Zhang Zhinan, national legislator and executive vice governor of Fujian province

Since beginning the river chief system in Fujian's main basin areas in 2014, the policy has achieved encouraging results and will be fully implemented across the province from March 1 as a part of a national ecological construction program being experimented in Fujian and two other provinces.

The governor is responsible for all rivers in the Fujian province and local officials are responsible for rivers within respective jurisdictions. Consequently, each river has an official protector and it is in this person’s interest to protect the water quality on a long-term basis.

The success of the policy thus far can be gauged through the fact the province's 12 major rivers boast levels of water quality way higher than the national average. Additionally, the local population's awareness of water resource protection issues has risen significantly.

Guo Jun, national legislator and assistant chief engineer at China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research

The implementation of the river chief system has transformed the way in which water resource protection issues in the province's rivers have been historically tackled. The system clearly lays out accountability and gives authorities guidelines and mechanisms to solve the problems at hand.

In this efficient system of clarified responsibility, the province can put on a united front to address the issue of water treatment and environment protection.

Zheng Xincong, national legislator and Party secretary of Quanzhou prefecture

Quzhou issued its own river chief plan at the end of February and began implantation on March 1.

Quanzhou is one of the two Fujian regions to have received special central government recognition for its significant ecological achievements. This has been achieved through carefully balancing environmental protection and economic development. The success is due to four identifiable aspects;

1. Transform traditional industries and ensure enterprises which fail to meet environmental protection requirements are unable to operate.

2. Support environmentally conscious hi-tech companies.

3. Strong financial support is necessary to improve the quality of drinking water. Since beginning its efforts in 2013, the prefecture has channeled 1.85 billion yuan ($267 million) into water protection and treatment.

4. Innovation is fundamental for ensuring a successful water protection policy. Starting from 2005, the region has implemented compensatory payments for upstream regions from downstream regions which incentivize residents to prioritize the health of rivers.

Lin Baojin, national legislator and Party secretary of Putian prefecture

Putian focused on the protecting the Mulan River that runs through the region and divided the protection efforts into upstream, midstream, and downstream.

Upstream areas are required to cultivate forests and protect water sources. Midstream areas with industrial and residential areas are tasked with controlling the levels of pollution and industrial waste entering the river. Downstream areas are obliged to improve flood prevention systems by connecting and dredging waterways. Downstream areas are also required to promote biodiversity.

Flood control, environmental protection, and landscape management combine to ensure river issues are tackled with a holistic approach.