The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies have been deepening cooperation in biodiversity conservation and marine sustainability. Guided by the theme of APEC 2025 Korea –"Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper," the Asia-Pacific region is advancing pragmatic actions to safeguard shared ecosystems.

One of the most notable examples is the transboundary tiger and leopard conservation mechanism jointly established by China and Russia. The two sides have created a nearly 17,000-square-kilometer cross-border protected area linking China's Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park with Russia's Land of the Leopard National Park.

The cooperation covers biodiversity conservation, cross-border protected area construction and solid waste management.

Through joint monitoring and habitat connectivity, the number of wild Siberian tigers in Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park has risen from 27 to 70, and leopards from 42 to 80.

In addition to terrestrial ecosystems, marine biodiversity has become a key area of APEC cooperation.

The First Institute of Oceanography under China's Ministry of Natural Resources has obtained approval for an APEC-funded project titled "Workshop on Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Community Development."

Supported by Chile, China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Peru, the project focuses on resource management, ecological protection technologies and gender equality in participation.

The project aims to enhance experience sharing and strengthen collaboration among APEC economies in marine protection and community sustainability.

Marine governance was also highlighted at the Fifth APEC Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting held in April in Korea's Busan. Delegates from APEC economies discussed marine resilience, sustainable fisheries and blue economy development.

The meeting reaffirmed APEC's commitment to promoting an "open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful" blue future, and recognized the contributions of the APEC Marine Sustainable Development Center in enhancing regional capacity building.

These outcomes reflected a shared understanding that environmental protection and economic growth can advance together through openness and innovation.

From cross-border wildlife corridors to sustainable marine programs, APEC economies are demonstrating that ecological cooperation is a cornerstone for inclusive growth and long-term regional resilience.

(Cover: Two-stripe damselfish darts around the table corals. /CGTN)