Fostering Public Participation in Watershed Pollution Governance: A Case Study of Civilian Environmental Supervisors in Guiyang’s Dual River Chief System

The complexity of watershed pollution governance necessitates the involvement of multiple stakeholders, with increasing emphasis on public participation. In response, China introduced the river chief system and gradually established civilian river chiefs and environmental supervisors as channels for public engagement. However, questions remain about how to effectively and sustainably engage the public while addressing watershed pollution. To explore this, we employed an action research approach, focusing on a case from Guiyang, which pioneered the “Dual River Chief System” and introduced civilian environmental supervisors, significantly mobilizing public involvement and controlling pollution. By analyzing the selection background, criteria, responsibilities, training, support mechanisms, and fieldwork of civilian environmental supervisors, we found that their primary tasks were monitoring watershed conditions and mobilizing broader public participation, with selection criteria focusing on interest in watershed governance and regional influence. At the same time, training and expert support were provided to enhance their investigative capabilities and ensure accurate results. This also fostered greater commitment and confidence among the supervisors, further promoting public participation in watershed governance. Despite its success, the approach relied heavily on the groundwork and local networks of civilian river chiefs and required significant time and effort in the early stages, posing certain limitations.