Research progress on the effects of the Three Gorges Reservoir on the ecological environment

With the completion of the Three Gorges Project, water impoundment operations have been smoothly for some years now. The Three Gorges Project has also had a broad and far-reaching impact on the ecological environment, with tremendous social and economic benefits. This paper analyzed the progress of research on the effects of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) on the ambient ecological environment using domestic and foreign research publications in recent 20 years. Firstly, the progress of research on the characteristics of land use change in the TGR area was analyzed. Then changes in environmental factors (e.g., reservoir-related climate change, change in soil and water environment and change in biodiversity) were determined. The study also summarized the effects of environmental quality and ecosystem services in the TGR area. Finally, the study put forward the existing problems and shortcomings of current research works and proposed the prospects of future research. It was recommended to pay more attention to the dynamics of the effects of reservoir project on the ecological environment in the TGR area. There was also need to establish a long-term observation database, integrate macroscopic with microscopic research and carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the ecological environment in the TGR area.