New momentum for 2010 in China
27 May 2009, Beijing (China). From 16 to 22 May, the Countdown 2010 Hub in China, in partnership with the EU-China Biodiversity Program (ECBP), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Global Village Beijing (GVB), organised a week-long event to showcase biodiversity conservation in China. The Biodiversity Week 2009 featured biodiversity films, debates, exhibitions and a children’s day.
The Biodiversity Week was a great opportunity to raise awareness of the need to protect and conserve biodiversity both within China and throughout the world. Films, images, drama and expert speakers examined topics such as invasive species and the effects of human activity on the environment and discussed the efforts individuals and organisations can undertake to help conserve the world’s remaining biodiversity.
In addition to celebrations for the International Day for Biological Diversity, on 28 April 2009, China’s Countdown 2010 partners met in Beijing to share their achievements and activities, seek opportunities to collaborate and to build extra momentum in the lead up to the 2010 milestone year.
Dr Ma Keping, IUCN Councillor and Director General of the Institute of Botany, addressed the audience and described the priority areas for action in China to achieve the 2010 goals.
The meeting was an opportunity for partners to share their experiences and achievements in biodiversity conservation over the past 18 months. They presented an impressive array of projects including: government efforts to develop indicators and track progress towards the 2010 goal; projects for protection of endangered species; the work of NGOs to engage young people in biodiversity conservation; and research being undertaken to improve our knowledge base about China’s biodiversity.
The Countdown 2010 Chinese partners will work together more closely in the coming months. In particular, partners will use their collective expertise to actively support government efforts towards the 2010 target of reducing the rate of biodiversity loss in China.
The Countdown 2010 Hub in China is one of the Multiregional Hubs within the Countdown 2010 network. Other hubs are present in South Africa and South America. Countdown 2010 encourages other countries to set up their own hub and help spread the biodiversity message!
