Story | 09 May, 2023

Towards Nature-based Solutions at scale – first IUCN-China joint publication launched

Beijing, China, 26 April 2023: IUCN and the Ministry of Natural Resources, People’s Republic of China, jointly released a publication titled Towards Nature-based Solutions at scale: 10 case studies from China, the first-ever knowledge product which IUCN co-developed with the Government of China. It was presented at the 2023 China Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Annual Forum, co-organised by IUCN China and its China Members Network. 

Through ten case studies, the report analyses how existing interventions to protect, restore and manage ecosystems in China align with the NbS Global Standard.

For example, the report includes a case study on how the Fuxian Lake Watershed in Yunnan Province can enhance ecosystem services in the area through integrated watershed protection, restoration and management. This contributes to the safeguarding of local water security as well as supporting the rural and urban development in central Yunnan.

The NbS Forum, where the report was introduced, saw the participation of over 150 people from Chinese national and local governments, IUCN Members, research institutions and universities, private sector and NGOs.

During her opening remarks, Ms Chen Danhong, Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources, noted that “NbS can address the challenges of climate change, natural disasters, resource crisis and ecological degradation in an integrated and holistic manner. It provides an operational and practical way for China to carry out the work of nature conservation and restoration. In the future, we will continue to deepen our cooperation with IUCN and jointly support the establishment of NbS Asian Hub.”

Mr Stewart Maginnis, Deputy Director General of IUCN, stressed that “it is heartening to know that China (has) also accumulated a great deal of experience in spatial planning and conservation and restoration of landscapes across the country. I’m confident our partnership will continue to yield fruitful outcomes. This includes, but is not limited to, the establishment and development of the NbS Asian Hub.”

NbS is starting to support the ecological protection as well as restoration policies and initiatives in China. In the keynote speech, Ms Lu Lihua, Deputy Director General, Department of Territorial Spatial Ecological Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, noted: “NbS is aligned with the Eco-Civilization in general and has achieved good progress in China. It altered the trajectory of conservation and restoration projects from a single target approach to a holistic and systematic one. We will continue integrating NbS into the conservation and restoration policies and standards, and strengthen the application of NbS in the landscape restoration and conservation initiatives.”

The 2023 China NbS Annual Forum took place between 25 to 26 April, and included a high-level plenary, two parallel technical sessions on the role of NbS in mitigating climate change and its spatial application, as well as a one-day training workshop.

Looking forward, IUCN will continue working closely with the Chinese government, IUCN Members and partners in China to promote and facilitate NbS development, implementation, knowledge generation and exchange. IUCN will also collaborate with the Ministry of Natural Resources of China on launching the NbS Asian Hub as a mechanism to contribute toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through NbS.

Read the full report:Towards Nature-based Solutions at scale | IUCN Library System