The Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Wednesday unveiled an action plan to protect and restore rivers and lakes across the country, laying out steps to improve water ecology and quality from 2025 to 2027.

Officials said the plan marks a new phase in China's water governance, moving beyond pollution control toward a more integrated approach.

"It is a milestone, following the 2015 Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Water Pollution," said Liu Jing, deputy director of the ministry's Department of Water Ecology and Environment. "This plan integrates the management of water resources, water environment and water ecology."

Gao Hongjie, director of the Institute of Water Ecology and Environment at the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, said the initiative signals that China's water governance is entering a phase focused on quality and efficiency.

Under the plan, a "beautiful" river or lake is defined as one with sustained ecological flow, intact or restored ecological functions in surrounding buffer zones, effectively protected biodiversity, controlled pollutant discharges and water quality that is fundamentally improved or maintained at excellent levels. It also envisions spaces that meet public expectations for scenic and recreational use.

To restore aquatic ecosystems, the plan calls for measures such as protecting aquatic life, curbing eutrophication in lakes and reservoirs, restoring habitats, and improving flood control and drainage systems.

Surveys will be conducted on water ecology in 2,573 rivers and lakes already identified by authorities. The plan emphasizes protection of water substrates and surrounding environments and encourages scientific adjustment of biological communities to improve ecological diversity, stability and sustainability.

Key habitats will be protected through the construction of fish passages, habitat connectivity improvements and restoration of spawning grounds. These efforts aim to support fish and waterbird populations during critical life stages such as reproduction and growth.

By 2027, the integrity of aquatic life in the Yangtze River Basin is expected to improve, and the decline of aquatic biodiversity in the Yellow River Basin should begin to stabilize, according to the plan.

As part of its broader "Beautiful China" vision, the country has already made significant strides in improving water quality. Last year, the proportion of surface-water sections classified as having excellent water quality reached 90.4 percent — the first time that figure has exceeded 90 percent.

The main stream of the Yangtze River, China's longest waterway, has maintained Grade II status — the second-highest level in the country's five-tier system — for five consecutive years. The Yellow River, the country's second-longest, has done so for three years.

The plan was jointly issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance and other ministries. It sets a goal of completing 40 percent of the "beautiful rivers and lakes" initiative by 2027, achieving significant progress by 2030 and full completion by 2035.

xunuo@chinadaily.com.cn