Jiangmen has been designated as a "Biodiversity Charming City" by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, becoming the second city in South China's Guangdong Province to receive international recognition after Shenzhen.
The new honorees were announced at the 9th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities, a parallel event to the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, also known as the UN Biodiversity Conference, in Armenia on October 24, Beijing time. Other Chinese cities and regions on the list include Hong Kong, Wuhan, Baishan, Shijiazhuang, Hohhot and Shengzhou in Shaoxing city.
The Biodiversity Charming Cities initiative recognizes cities and regions that have made outstanding progress in biodiversity conservation.
Jiangmen, South China's Guangdong Province, is designated as a "Biodiversity Charming City" by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability on October 24, Beijing time. (Photo: Xu Zijing)
Jiangmen, South China's Guangdong Province, is designated as a "Biodiversity Charming City" by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability on October 24, Beijing time. (Photo: Xu Zijing)
Known for its mountains, coastline and overseas Chinese heritage, Jiangmen is located along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, a major migratory route for birds. Its diverse ecosystems include forests, rivers, bays, islands and mangrove wetlands.
An aerial view of Jiangmen, South China's Guangdong Province. (Photo: Xu Weiliang)
The city has recorded 1,184 species of vascular plants, 497 species of terrestrial vertebrates and 348 bird species, including nationally protected species such as the Chinese pangolin and the small Indian civet.
Jiangmen has also explored ways to turn ecological resources into economic value. Its achievements include a mangrove carbon project showcased at a UN climate change conference, a 500 million yuan forest-based loan in Kaiping, and 23.5 billion yuan in total credit commitments from eight banks to Enping's ecological product trading center.
Environmental education is helping make biodiversity conservation part of everyday life in Jiangmen, South China's Guangdong Province. (Photo: Huang Shaozhen)
The city also promotes public participation through environmental volunteer teams, nature education and livestreamed birdwatching, helping raise awareness of biodiversity conservation.
Author | Liu Xiaodi
