China - Changjiang/Pearl River Watershed Rehabilitation Project : environmental and social assessment (Vol. 2 of 8) : Social assessment executive summary

Page 1 1 E1238, Vol. 2 Changjiang/Pearl River Watershed Rehabilitation Project Social Assessment Executive Summary Located in western China the project areas of the proposed Changjiang/Pearl River Watershed Rehabilitation Project (the Project) are of complex geographic conditions, diversified social cultures, serious water and soil erosion, a relatively lagging economy and serious poverty issues. The implementation of the Project will contribute to resolving the long-standing ecological and environmental problems and promote economic development in poor areas and development in multi-nationality areas as well. Of course, project implementation will face some difficulties, but in general, project environmental and poverty alleviation objectives can be achieved. 0.1 Research Tasks and Methodologies Entrusted by the Ministry of Water Resources in September 2004 the Hohai University took on social assessment (SA) for the proposed World Bank-financed Changjiang and Pearl River Watershed Rehabilitation Project and set up an SA Work Team immediately afterwards with Mr. Shi Guoqing, Director of the University