China's ecological conservation in the eyes of foreigners

Sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and organized by the National Academy of Forestry and Grassland Administration, the Seminar on Import and Export Management and Protection of Endangered Species for Developing Countries was held recently.

This seminar in northwest China's Shaanxi Province explored an important issue that affects us all – global ecological problems. The challenges we face are widespread, from climate change to the reduction of biodiversity, and each of these issues has a profound impact on our future.

The seminar lasted for two weeks. A total of 38 officials and experts from seven developing countries, including Türkiye, Sierra Leone, Iran, Ethiopia, Thailand, Nigeria and Egypt, were invited to the seminar. 

Marvel Emelia Bassie from the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Resources in Sierra Leon said that due to global warming, many wildlife species are being forced to migrate. However, facing unknown climate conditions, some animals are even dead.

Netchanok Jantawan, an officer in Thailand's Forest Industry Organization, told CGTN that there is a lot of trade in elephants in Thailand, such as illegal trade in ivory products, which contributes to the endangerment of wildlife.

Atife Tuba BEKEN is a marine hatchery manager in Türkiye's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies Central Fisheries Research Institute. She said the overuse of pesticides also causes environmental problems and leads to the destruction of plant and animal habitats.

As a China-aided program, the seminar invited Chinese experts, researchers and professors from institutions, universities and related departments to share knowledge, experience and cases of endangered species conservation and its import and export management.

Major topics included China's implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, biodiversity conservation in China and employment of DNA technology to end threatened tree trafficking.

Daniel Assefa Zinabu, head of wildlife law enforcement in the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, said that the world is now facing more and more ecological problems and that collective efforts are needed to help solve them. He also expressed hope for more cooperation between China and Ethiopia in the future.

"It's very valuable," said Asghar Samiei, head of the protection office of the Natural Resource and Watershed Management Organization in Iran. He told CGTN that through this conference, he learned a lot about animal protection, such as big data and animal monitoring systems. He hoped to take this knowledge back to his home country.

Sena Gashe Hora, a wildlife researcher in the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, said deforestation is a serious problem facing the world, but China has set a good example for forest protection in developing countries. He expressed gratitude to China for sharing its experience and hoped to have another opportunity to come to China.

The seminar provided a platform for mutual learning and multilateral cooperation in endangered species conservation among developing countries. It also contributed Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the cause of building a community of life between man and nature.

(Video by Bai Longfei and Hu Rui)