PRC - Preliminary Working Meeting to Implement the RFI in the People’s Republic of China
The wetlands of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) support globally important biodiversity values and ecosystem services which support the livelihoods of millions of people. The PRC’s wetlands provide critical habitats for over 210 species of waterbirds to rest and refuel, as well as water, flood protection, carbon sequestration, and other resources for human communities. Many of these values are under threat, from agriculture, development, hunting, and other factors. The government, supported by civil society organizations (CSOs), development agencies, and other stakeholders, is undertaking comprehensive efforts to conserve wetlands, yet these efforts are challenged by climate change, rising human populations, limited financing, and other issues. There is a need to scale up these efforts, through large-scale regional initiatives that emphasize partnerships.
PRC support and participation is critical to the success of the RFI. Representatives from the PRC’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration and Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) attended the webinar in October 2020; and the RFI was briefly introduced by ADB at two national pre-COP15 events arranged by MEE: during a Business and Biodiversity Forum on 6–7 June 2021 and at a subforum of the Eco Forum Global Guiyang on 12 July 2021.
The RFI was formally launched at the 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in October 2021, Kunming, Yunnan Province, PRC. A next step is to facilitate national dialogue to plan and implement the RFI in the PRC.
Workshop Objectives
1. Introduce and raise awareness of the RFI among key national agencies as well as CSOs, donors, and development agencies supporting wetland management in the PRC.
2. Learn from current and previous wetland projects: achievements and challenges.
3. Help identify next steps to plan and implement the RFI in the PRC.
Date | Session / Activity | Presentation Material | Speaker(s) |
---|---|---|---|
29 Sep 2021 | Opening Session | Opening Remarks | Yolanda Fernandez Lommen, |
29 Sep 2021 | Session 1: Regional Flyway Initiative and National Framework for Wetland Conservation | Chair | Thomas Panella |
29 Sep 2021 | Session 1: Regional Flyway Initiative and National Framework for Wetland Conservation |
Regional Flyway Initiative: Introduction, Objectives, Progress, and Next Steps This presentation gave an overview ofthe Regional Flyway Initiative. |
Duncan Lang, Vinayagan Dharmarajah |
29 Sep 2021 | Session 1: Regional Flyway Initiative and National Framework for Wetland Conservation |
EAAFP: Securing Internationally Important Wetlands for Migratory Waterbirds and Local Communities This presentation gave an overview of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership and the importance of building a Flyway network of internationally... |
Doug Watkins |
29 Sep 2021 | Session 1: Regional Flyway Initiative and National Framework for Wetland Conservation |
National Plans, Policies, and Targets for Wetland and Waterbird Conservation in the People’s Republic of China This presentation summarized the national plans and targets that form the basis for wetland conservation in the People’s Republic of China. |
Lei Guangchun |
29 Sep 2021 | Session 2: Learning from Current and Previous Projects | Chair | Nicolas Rossin |
29 Sep 2021 | Session 2: Learning from Current and Previous Projects |
UNDP/GEF Strengthening the Protected Area Network for Migratory Bird Conservation Along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) in China Project. This presentation addressed the importance of strengthening the wetlands protected area network for migratory bird conservation along the East Asian-Australasian... |
Zhang Mingxiang |
29 Sep 2021 | Session 2: Learning from Current and Previous Projects |
FAO program on wetlands in the People’s Republic of China This presentation discussed the achievements and challenges of FAO program on wetlands in People’s Republic of China. |
Chungshen Yao |
29 Sep 2021 | Session 2: Learning from Current and Previous Projects |
The Nature Conservancy program on wetlands in the People’s Republic of China This presentation discussed the achievements and challenges of The Nature Conservancy program on wetlands in the People's Republic of China. |
Kang Wei |
29 Sep 2021 | Session 3: Next Steps to Establish the Regional Flyway Initiative – Stakeholder Feedback | Chair | Mark Bezuijen |
29 Sep 2021 | National agencies | Ministry of Natural Resources | Gao Aimei |
29 Sep 2021 | National agencies | Ministry of Ecology and Environment | Du Jinmei |
29 Sep 2021 | National agencies | National Forestry and Grassland Administration | Hu Xinxin |
29 Sep 2021 | Civil Society Organizations | Paulson Institute | Jianbin Shi |
29 Sep 2021 | Civil Society Organizations |
Wetlands International: Practice and outlook toward the Regional Flyway Initiative |
Zhang Xiaohong |
29 Sep 2021 | Civil Society Organizations |
International Crane Foundation: Securing a Safe Flyway Network for Cranes |
Yu Qian |
29 Sep 2021 | Development agencies: planning frameworks for the RFI | Agence Française de Développement | Xiaoting Jin |
29 Sep 2021 | Development agencies: planning frameworks for the RFI |
Asian Development Bank: Yellow River Ecological Corridor Program and Yangtze River Economic Belt Initiative: Supporting Wetlands, Livelihoods and Biodiversity in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway |
Silvia Cardascia |
29 Sep 2021 | Summary and Closing Remarks | Thomas Panella | |
29 Sep 2021 | Continuing Session 3: Open Working Discussion | Chair | Lu Cai |