Background The Chinese-style modernization, a beautiful China, and The Opinions on Strengthening Soil and Water Conservation Work in the New Era by General Office of CPC Central Committee and The General Office of the State Council demand new requirements for high-quality development of soil and water conservation in the New Era.

Methods I conducted in-depth study on the theory, technology, and methods of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, drew on and refined relevant new technologies, explored the scientific research directions and the key points of technological innovation for soil and water conservation, and promoted the scope of application that meet the needs of the New Era.

Results The scientific and technological support to soil and water conservation in the New Era is critical and urgent, thus the scientific and technological innovation and application should be accelerated from the following aspects. 1) It is the aim and task of soil and water conservation in the New Era to improve the function of soil and water conservation and the supply capacity of ecological products, according to different thresholds of soil and water conservation rate, the index system of soil and water conservation function analysis was established, and the technology of improving soil and water conservation function of ecosystem was explored. 2)The spatial management and control system of key areas of soil and water conservation should be established, differential management should be implemented, and soil and water conservation technical measures should be explored and popularized.3) We should have intelligent management of soil and water conservation project, risk assessment and intelligent early warning of soil and water loss, establishment of green design green construction standards, exploration of video monitoring and tracking management. 4) We should strengthen the technical support of the management of landscape, forest, lake, grass (sand) system, promote the rural revitalization and common prosperity with the eco-clean small watershed. We should also explore the technology of ecosystem diversity, stability and sustainability in soil and water loss control, and promote the intelligent guidance and management of soil and water loss. 5) We should speed up the research on carbon sequestration in soil and water conservation and market transaction, establish a value assessment system for ecological damage in soil and water conservation, and deepen the basic research on soil and water loss prediction and dynamic monitoring.

Conclusions With innovative theory, technology, mechanism, we should comprehensively promote the soil and water conservation management system and management capacity modernization, service high-quality development.