The ecological renewal model that China has implemented with success is an inspiration to countries keen to restore degraded habitats and strengthen resilience of communities amid climatic shocks, a senior UN official has said.
Elizabeth Mrema, executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) said that China's pioneering nature in conservation initiatives has been a boon to global efforts to advance the green agenda.
"The Chinese government attaches great importance to the global biodiversity agenda and has continued to participate in the global biodiversity governance," Mrema told Xinhua during a virtual interview in Nairobi.
She said that courtesy of the ecological civilization concept espoused by China, protection of vital ecosystems has been embedded in the Asian nations' development policies and programs.
Mrema hailed some bold interventions that China has rolled out to ensure the health of vital ecosystems like forests, rivers and wetlands remained intact amid rapid economic growth.
"The innovative ecological conservation redline system, created and developed by China already covers more than 25 percent of the land area in its initial delineation, really providing an effective protection to a vast majority of the important species and ecosystems," said Mrema.
She said that satellite monitoring data indicates that China represented more than 25 percent of new green areas globally from 2000 to 2017 adding that the historic feat is an inspiration to countries grappling with ecological challenges.
Mrema said that China had the largest increase in land under forest cover from 2009 to 2019 estimated at 71 million hectares, which has boosted response to climate change.
She said that a 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River Basin has reaffirmed China's commitment to the protection of aquatic life while a fishing moratorium is a testimony of Beijing's positive contribution to the global biodiversity agenda.
Mrema said that China has been successful in mobilizing industry, civil society and the public to contribute to the conservation of flora and fauna.
"And just a few years ago, 2017, 23 Chinese civil society organizations also launched a protected natural area alliance for public welfare, which has been successful in organizing the public attention into Chinese contribution to conservation," said Mrema.
She lauded China for introducing measures to improve transparency, sustainability and compliance with international norms in the operation of its large distance water fleet.
According to Mrema, China with its high number of farmers could lead the way in biodiversity conservation through agricultural practices that are less reliant on pesticides or synthetic fertilizer.
"And this of course builds on existing good practices in China, particularly when we look at its extensive capacity in research and development, traditional Chinese practices in rice and fish production," said Mrema.
She said that implementation of mega infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative offers an opportunity to showcase China's ability to strike the harmony between nature and economic development.
Mrema said that China has earned global recognition by agreeing to host the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity to be held in the city of Kunming from May 17 to 30.
"China will be able to demonstrate to the world, to show by example its contribution to the global biodiversity agenda and conservation," said Mrema.
