Recently, the 3rd China-UK National Park Conservation and Development Workshop was held at the Minshan Hotel in Chengdu. Themed “Jointly Establishing Ecological Experience Platforms and Expanding Resource Sharing Services”, the workshop convened over 80 attendees, including government officials from both countries, experts and scholars in ecological conservation, representatives of cultural tourism enterprises, and members of public welfare organizations. Divided into two parts, “Management Experience Sharing” and “Societal Participation in Co-Construction and Sharing”, the workshop facilitated multidimensional and in-depth discussions. The event has injected new impetus into the conservation and development of national parks in China through international cooperation and fostered a cross-disciplinary and cross-border consensus on ecological governance.

 

 

Liu Jiacong, Secretary of the Leading CPC Members’ Group and Director of the Chengdu Branch of the Giant Panda National Park Administration, extended her gratitude to the UK delegation and other attendees for their presence at the opening ceremony. She pointed out that this workshop serves not only as a pivotal platform for showcasing ecological conservation achievements of the Giant Panda National Park Chengdu Area but also as a key bridge for deepened cooperation between China and the UK in national park management and biodiversity conservation. Through candid exchanges, the two sides analyzed challenges in national park management, sought solutions, and jointly explored innovative models for harmonious coexistence between ecological conservation and community development. As a result, both countries have contributed replicable “Chinese and British solutions” to the establishment and management of national parks worldwide while safeguarding the ecological security of the planet hand in hand.

 

 

Anthony Preston, Consul General of the UK in Chongqing, reviewed the history of ecological cooperation between China and the UK in his address. He remarked that the Lake District National Park and other established cases in the UK can provide insights for the development of national parks in China. He emphasized that both sides should strengthen engagement to explore more pragmatic cooperation models in ecological experience development, social capital engagement, and other areas.

 

 

Chen Zongqian, Member of the Leading CPC Members’ Group and Deputy Director General of the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Forestry and Grassland, stated that establishing a system of natural protected areas with national parks at its core represents a major institutional innovation in China’s structural reform in ecological conservation. This initiative has not only strengthened harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature but also contributed Chinese solutions to global ecological conservation. He expressed hope that this workshop will serve as a platform for China and the UK to elevate ecological cooperation from experience exchange to tangible project cooperation and jointly contribute to achieving the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

 

During the workshop session, Gavin Capstick, Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Authority of the UK, elaborated on the “A Park for All” management model from aspects such as “co-management”, “local plans”, and “development control”; Mark Holroyd, Head of Recreation and Communications of Forestry England (North), presented case studies on pathways for forest recreation development in the Lake District National Park; Chinese representatives shared insights into various topics, such as the interpretation of the National Park Law of China, the integrated development of the Giant Panda National Park and communities, and the conservation of species with small populations, demonstrating innovation achievements in the development of national parks with Chinese characteristics. Additionally, Catherine Hawkins (online), Chair of Board of the National Park Partnership of the UK, and Hua Hongyu, China Office Representative of the University of Cumbria, introduced the establishment of international cooperation platforms and experiences in outdoor activities education, respectively, offering diverse perspectives to the attendees.

 

The Guarding Giant Panda and Our Shared Ecosystem—Proposal for the Protection and Development of Giant Panda National Park, released during the event, proposes three initiatives, urging the whole society to: optimize visitor management and practice green philosophy; foster a shared understanding of development and ecological value; deepen joint construction and sharing and promote collaborative development. Based on these initiatives, it calls for broader participation in ecological conservation.

 

 

Since the Lake District National Park of the UK, the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park of Scotland, and the Chengdu Branch of the Giant Panda National Park Administration signed the National Park Conservation and Development Cooperation MOU in 2023, Chinese and British national parks have held the National Park Conservation and Development Workshop in Chengdu for three consecutive years. This cooperation has promoted the high-quality development of national parks in both China and the UK (click here for the report on the 2024 National Park Conservation and Development Workshop—“Chinese and British National Parks Launch Second Cooperation Event as UK Experts Visit Chengdu to Continue Ecological Journey”).

 

This transnational ecological dialogue has not only deepened cooperation between China and the UK in biodiversity conservation but also represented a significant exploration of collaborative efforts among governments, research institutions, and enterprises in establishing an ecological security system. It has contributed “Chinese and British wisdom” to the sustainable development of national parks across the globe.

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin

Source: Chengdu Discovery