Environmental policy implementation in rural China: A case study of Yuhang County, Zhejiang.

摘要

Since the 1978 economic reforms, village and township enterprises (VTE) have transformed China's rural landscape. Although these enterprises have increased financial well-being, they have also contributed to increased environmental degradation. While China has strong environmental protection laws, they are not being effectively implemented. A number of social, political, and economic barriers prevent agencies from enforcing China's environmental policies and regulatory mechanisms.;This study investigates the implementation of China's environmental policies through a case study in Yuhang County, Zhejiang province. Interviews were conducted in 1998 with 35 key informants from government agencies, universities, village and township enterprises, and household-based industries. Data were collected on local environmental perceptions, the implementation process, monitoring, and barriers to implementation. Through a synthesis of primary and secondary data sources, recommendations are proposed to overcome some of the barriers and constraints to environmental policy implementation.