The 6th International Conference on Urban Watershed Management and Lake Eco-system Protection and Re

Protecting the water environment is one of the most important and pressing issues that demands great attention in light of the ever-increasing urban development in all parts of the world. In China, rapid urban growth in many areas, such as Nanchang, the capital city of Jiangxi Province, has put heavy strain on the water and ecological systems such as the Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China and an important eco-system in the world. Watershed management is therefore critically important in order to protect valuable eco-systems such as Poyang Lake and to provide a sustainable use of water resources. The International Watershed Management Conference was inaugurated in 1997 at the University of Virginia to provide a forum for sharing research and experiences in watershed management practices. The second conference was held at University of Virginia in 1999, the third in Taipei in 2001, the fourth in Shenzhen, China in 2004 and the fifth in Chengdu, China in 2007. The objective of the Sixth International Conference on Urban Watershed Management and Lake Eco-system Protection and Resource Utilization is to bring together professionals from various parts of the world together to discuss urban watershed management strategies; techniques and practices for lake eco-system protection and resource utilization; integrated water quality control technologies, and institutional/organizational issues that are important in achieving a sustainable utilization of water resources.