SUSDEV-CHINA - Sustainable agroecosystem management and development of rural-urban interaction in regions and cities of China

China's national water resources constitute about one quarter of the world's average and water pollution is one of the most severe in the world. Four fifths of the population, one billion people, drinks polluted water and shortages had caused significant conflicts between the agricultural, industrial and residential sectors. The objective of SUSDEV-CHINA was to study the main issues of the agroecosystem and rural-urban interaction as related to human health and the welfare of society. The project area included five regions including Beijing and Shanghai. The focus was on water management, re-orientation of agriculture and the urbanisation process. The main expected output was reaching a better understanding of and to improve sustainable agroecosystem management and rural-urban interaction in China in order to provide environmental and socio-economic factors for an integrated sustainable development strategy.