2005
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2005.1644
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Virtual versus real water transfers within China

Abstract: North China faces severe water scarcity--more than 40% of the annual renewable water resources are abstracted for human use. Nevertheless, nearly 10% of the water used in agriculture is employed in producing food exported to south China. To compensate for this 'virtual water flow' and to reduce water scarcity in the north, the huge south-north Water Transfer Project is currently being implemented. This paradox--the transfer of huge volumes of water from the water-rich south to the water-poor north versus trans… Show more

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Cited by 204 publications
(105 citation statements)
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“…However, many local and regional trade relationships lead to irrational water resource outcomes [Chapagain et al, 2006]. For example, food trade from northern to southern China amounts to a virtual water flow of 52 km 3 yr −1 , more than the proposed diversion of real water through the South-North Water Transfer Project [Ma et al, 2006]. This paradoxical outcome can only be explained when local norms and values prioritizing food security over adverse environmental outcomes and the combined structure of land, labor, energy, ecological, and water constraints are taken into account.…”
Section: Virtual Water Trade Paradoxmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…However, many local and regional trade relationships lead to irrational water resource outcomes [Chapagain et al, 2006]. For example, food trade from northern to southern China amounts to a virtual water flow of 52 km 3 yr −1 , more than the proposed diversion of real water through the South-North Water Transfer Project [Ma et al, 2006]. This paradoxical outcome can only be explained when local norms and values prioritizing food security over adverse environmental outcomes and the combined structure of land, labor, energy, ecological, and water constraints are taken into account.…”
Section: Virtual Water Trade Paradoxmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Berkoff (2003) suggests that China might justify the large cost of its South-to-North Water Transfer Project in part by citing concerns regarding national food security and the large number of residents employed in agriculture on the North China Plain. Ma et al (2006) also examine commodity trade between south and north China, suggesting that in 1999 northern China exported 52 billion m 3 of virtual water in the crops it sent to southern China. This volume is larger than the proposed annual transfer of 38 billion m 3 of water from southern to northern China when the project is completed.…”
Section: Policy Relevance and Implicationsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Bulsink et al (2010) showed that the external virtual water flow relieved water scarcity in Java, a densely populated area in Indonesia where water scarcity is maximal. Ma et al (2006) quantified the volumes of virtual water flow between regions in China. They demonstrated that northern China exported 52 G m 3 of water in virtual form to southern China, more than the planned real water transfer from south to north via Water Transfer Projects.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%