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CWU-NSF China Program

International Education: Five years, four faculty, 60 undergrads and almost three quarters of a million dollars …. CWU-NSF China Program. Presented by: Dr. Roberta Soltz Invited Speaker – Shippensburg University International Education Week 2009. Consider the source…. Ph.D. Biology, 1982

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CWU-NSF China Program

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  1. International Education: Five years, four faculty, 60 undergrads and almost three quarters of a million dollars … CWU-NSF China Program Presented by: Dr. Roberta Soltz Invited Speaker – Shippensburg University International Education Week 2009

  2. Consider the source… • Ph.D. Biology, 1982 • 20-year career in water resource management, adjunct faculty biology • Currently, flood control project manager in Bloomsburg, PA where Dave serves as President, BU • Primary interests: sustainable practices, WRM, biodiversity International, interdisciplinary, interesting

  3. The Program-Primary funding (NSF) • Objective: Train undergraduates how to undertake social science research in China while exploring the impact of China’s rapid economic development on its environment and water resources • Award 0139677-funded at $342,000, 2002-2006 (2003 cancelled, SARS). 47 students • Award 0851541-funded at $404,000, 2009-2012

  4. Approach (4 X 4) • Perspective: History, sociology, economics & environment: US and Chinese counterparts. • Student/faculty ratio: 4 to 1 • Domestic/international venues: 4 weeks each • Outcome: 4 papers, presentations, publications (+) • Evolution: Governmental/private activities towards sustainability along southeast coast to beleaguered northwest

  5. Merit • There is agreement that we should live within the earth’s means to support us and that sustainable development is possible • Volumes of “best-practices” have been published • Notwithstanding, there are world-wide crises in water & air quality, desertification & soil loss We have failed individually and institutionally to live in a sustainable manner

  6. Rural, Northwest China • Per capita water/land availability 1/3 world average • One of the world’s most fragile dry-land ecosystems*: Loess Plateau • Focus of Great Northwest Development Strategy (March 1999) * China contains more than twice as much than any other single country and about half of it is already seriously degraded

  7. Yellow River Basin • 640,000 km2 • 90 million people • Average annual income < ½ national average • Population politically and economically marginalized • Loses 1.6 billion tons of soil/year – one of the most erosive climates in the world • 25% particulates in LA can be traced to China

  8. Environmental issues: • Severe deforestation and erosion on the Loess/Tibetan Plateau…w/ severe water quality problems downstream (sedimentation and flooding) • Loss of prime agricultural land • Degraded biodiversity

  9. Contributing factors: • Use of headwaters as wastewater conveyance • Poor understanding/appreciation watershed function • 2000 years of intense cultivation in lowlands by Salar minority people • Pastoral activity by Tibetans on fragile soil at higher elevations

  10. Possible trends to explore: • Decreasing diversity of cultivated crops at both high and low elevation • Decreasing diversity in biological communities with related erosion natural function of watersheds • Incremental loss of farmland downstream • Incremental loss of small farms in favor of larger operations owned by individuals or groups of individuals not in touch with the land

  11. Food for thought: • Identify and preserve existing, high quality stands of natural vegetation • Flood control for agricultural areas downstream • Impose reasonable fees for water, pesticides and fertilizer • Identify significant watersheds and protect topsoil • Rebuild damaged habitats, especially grasslands • Promote ecosystem management research and education and train professionals to help solve problems

  12. Baba Dioum 1968 In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.

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