A total of 34 participants from 9 countries, including Timor-Leste, Fiji, Cameroon, Nigeria, etc. participated in the seminar.
The Seminar on Wetland Conservation and Management for RAMSAR Member Countries, funded by the Ministry of Commerce and organized by the China National Bamboo Research Center of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (hereinafter referred to as the "Bamboo Center"), kicked off in Hangzhou on 24 May 2024. This is the first training workshop on wetland protection and management held by the Bamboo Center after the foreign aid training program resumed in China. A total of 34 participants from 9 countries (including Timor-Leste, Fiji, Cameroon, Nigeria, etc.) participated in the seminar. Mr. Dong Ye, Deputy Director of the Wetland Management Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Mr. Zhong Zheke, Deputy Director of the Bamboo Center, also attended the opening ceremony.
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Dong Ye introduced the important role of wetlands as a unique ecosystem, emphasized that China, like other developing countries, faces the problem of how to balance the relationship between protection and development. He focused on introducing the main achievements China has made in wetland protection and management since joining Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, including promulgation of the Wetland Protection Law, organization of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14), increasing number of wetlands of international importance, the establishment of "International Wetland Cities", etc. In particular, the International Mangrove Center is established, demonstrating China's responsibility and leadership in the field of natural ecology. He hopes that this training workshop will become a platform for sharing knowledge and experience, expanding collaboration, and promoting sustainable development worldwide.
Mr. Zhong Zheke delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the organizer. He expressed his gratitude to higher level department for its support, and committed that he would do his best to create a favorable environment and provide sound support for the training workshop. He also hoped that the participants could provide valuable opinions and suggestions on the training courses to further improve the quality and enhance the level of exchange and cooperation.
Ms. Ranjita Devi Ochubo, a scientific and technological officer of the Wetland Department of the National Parks and Conservation Bureau of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security in Mauritius, delivered a speech as a representative of the participants. She introduced current status of wetlands protection and utilization in her country, and the challenges Mauritius face. She expressed the hope that this training workshop would enhance her ability of wetland scientific research, protection and management, and look forward to further exchanges and cooperation.
In addition, Ms. Hu Xinxin, Acting Division Chief of the Department of Wetland Management of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Mr. Liu Xiang, Director of Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park Ecology & Culture Research Center, and all participants of the training workshop have attended the opening ceremony. In the next two weeks, the seminar will provide lectures by well-known Chinese experts and scholars in the field of wetlands, and conduct field trips to visit typical wetlands with international importance, wetland nature reserves, national wetland parks, and international wetland cities in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shanghai to interact and communicate with front-line scientific research and management personnel.
Source: http://www.caf.ac.cn/info/1255/52563.htm
