Dagu River After Comprehensive Development:Centralized Management And Protection And Market-Oriented Operation

Since the end of the comprehensive development of Dagu River, the river is still managed in a decentralized approach relying heavily on government. By drawing on river basin management theories and weighing the cost-effectiveness, this thesis explores a centralized approach for management and protection and designs a model for market-oriented operation of Dagu River.Firstly, the thesis summarizes the theories of river basin and administrative region management, and the theories regarding river basin management institutions. It sums up the respective characteristics and benefits of decentralized management as well as centralized management and protection, and compares the two approaches. Important insights are yielded from studying the practices of centralized river basin management and protection in China and elsewhere.Secondly, the thesis examines the role the Dugu River plays in Qingdao’s ecology, environment, economy and social development, and evaluates the economic, social and ecological benefits gained from the comprehensive development of the river. After presenting a clear picture of the fiscal input in the comprehensive development and the consequently formed state-owned assets, the thesis sheds light on the post-development function planning of Dagu River.Thirdly, the thesis analyzes the effect of the current management model of Dagu River, devises the standards for managing and protecting the areas with special requirements, and proposes a centralized approach for management and protection. It examines the economic returns or compensatory fiscal income with market-oriented operation, and makes predictions on the effect and returns of centralized management and protection as well as market operation of the River.The thesis concludes with policy suggestions for managing and protecting Dagu River in a centralized approach and operating it in a market-based approach. The plan for implementing the suggestions is devised, including improving management structure, amending the measures for centralized management and protection, creating management and protection system, increasing oversight and evaluation, introducing market-based investment system compatible with the centralized approach, and building and regulating water market system of Dagu River. It also sheds light on the model, returns, implementation suggestions and market projections on developing the Dagu River Ecological Area.