China Releases Five-Year Action Plan to Accelerate the Improvement of Rural Human Settlement Environment

The General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council have recently issued the Five-Year Action Plan for the Improvement of the Rural Human Settlement Environment （2021-2025）. The document proposes that by 2025, the rural human settlement environment will be significantly improved, and new progress will be made in the construction of ecologically livable and beautiful villages.

The document pointed out that since the implementation of the Three-Year Action to Improve the Rural Human Settlement Environment in 2018, the long-standing dirty and messy rural environment has been reversed. The rural environment has generally been clean and orderly, and the farmers' sense of hygienic environment have undergone gratifying changes, and the quality of life in rural area has generally improved. This provides strong support for completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. However, the overall quality of the rural human settlement environment in our country is generally not high, and there are still problems such as unbalanced development among regions, imperfect basic living facilities, and incomplete management and protection mechanisms, which are still far from the requirements of agricultural and rural modernization and the farmers' yearning for a better life.

The document puts forward the action goal by 2025, namely: significant improvement of rural human settlement environment, and new progress in the construction of ecologically livable and beautiful villages. The penetration rate of rural sanitary toilets should be steadily increased, and generally the toilet feces should be effectively treated. The treatment rate of rural domestic sewage should be continuously increased, and the unproper discharge of garbage should be controlled. The level of harmless treatment of rural domestic garbage should be significantly improved, and villages where conditions permit could classify and reduce domestic garbage from source. The level of governance of rural human settlements should be significantly improved, and a long-term management and protection mechanism should be fundamentally established. The document also clarifies the task requirements that are compatible with the economic and social development capabilities and levels of different regions.

The document proposes to promote overall improvement of the village appearance, improve the public environment of the village, promote the greening and beautification of the village, and strengthen the guidance of the rural style.

The document pointed out illegal construction, piles and dumping of private buildings should be completely cleaned up, ruined walls should be renovated, and the village's public space should be expanded through intensive use of vacant land in the village. Scientifically manage and control the fire used in rural production and life, strengthen the sorting and maintenance of rural power cables, communication cables, and radio and television cables, and promote the governance of illegal wiring in places where conditions permit. Improve the villages' emergency management system, rationally arrange the location of emergency shelters, flood control, fire protection and other disaster relief facilities and equipment, and clear safe passages. Rectify outdoor advertising in rural areas, and standardize the content and set-up. Pay attention to population with special needs, and develop barrier-free environments in rural areas where conditions permit.

The document emphasizes implementing rural greening and beautification actions in depth, highlighting the protection of rural mountains and gardens, rivers and lakes, wetlands, native vegetation, ancient and famous trees, etc. Develop barren hills, wastelands, and vacant beaches according to local conditions, and strengthen the building and restoration of farmland （pasture） shelter forests. Guide and encourage villagers to develop garden greening by planting fruits, vegetables, flowers, and trees, promote village greening by planting trees beside waterbodies, roads, villages, and houses and make full use of wastelands, abandoned lands, and corner lands to develop small parks and public green spaces. Support the development of forest villages in areas with suitable conditions, and implement pilot projects to connect water system and construct villages with beautiful waterbodies.

The document proposes to vigorously promote the renovation of villages and courtyards, compile guidelines for improving village appearance, optimize villages' production spaces, living spaces and ecological spaces. Promote the complementarity of village form with natural environment and traditional culture. Strengthen the guidance of village style and features, highlight the local rural style and regional characteristics, and avoid all villages sharing similar appearance or large-scale demolition or construction. Promote outstanding farming culture, strengthen the protection of traditional villages and famous historical and cultural villages/towns, actively promote the listing and protection of traditional villages, and establish a dynamic management mechanism.

Source: <//www.stufic.com/news/view?id=12045>

Translated by Fan Junyi