Abstract: In China sci-tech development of soil and water conservation has a long history for about 100 years. The research achievements on soil erosion types, mechanisms, soil erosion regionalization, small watershed management, monitoring at national scale have obvious features and predominance in the world. Major research accomplishments include small watershed management, soil erosion process and mechanisms, impact of human activities on soil erosion, and relationship between soil erosion and river sediment. Entered the 21st century, regional eco-environment rehabilitation crectes new opportunities and challenges to scientific and technologic research of soil and water conservation. Therefore, we urgently need to constitute a new strategy of sci-tech development of soil and water conservation for the 21st century in China. Based on the analysis of international development trend and requirement of China, the priority research programs, key technologies and measures are proposed in this paper.