Protecting Natural Treasures and Creating Harmonious Beauty Together
The Third National Park Forum Held in Chengdu, Sichuan
On August 19, the Third National Park Forum was held in Chengdu, Sichuan, under the theme “Protecting Natural Treasures and Creating Harmonious Beauty Together.” The forum deeply studied and implemented Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, focused on the construction and management of national parks, jointly discussed the development of national parks, and shared valuable experience in national park construction. At the opening ceremony, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, also known as the National Park Administration, released three achievements: the Report on the Development of China’s National Parks, the Plan for the Construction of the National Park Monitoring System, and the Manual for the Standardized Design System of China National Park Visual Identity and Logo.
Liu Guohong, Director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, also known as the National Park Administration; Shi Xiaolin, Governor of Sichuan Province; and Qiao Wenbo, New Zealand Ambassador to China, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Chen Shuping, Vice Governor of Sichuan Province, presided over the opening ceremony.
Liu Guohong emphasized that establishing a national park system with Chinese characteristics is one of the major reforms of the ecological civilization system personally planned, deployed, and promoted by General Secretary Xi Jinping. It is an important practical achievement under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, and a landmark project for building a Beautiful China and advancing modernization featuring harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. The construction of the national park system with Chinese characteristics has always adhered to strict protection, benefits for the people, and institutional innovation. After ten years of persistent exploration and practice, it has taken major steps and achieved important results. To continuously deepen the exploration and improvement of the national park construction system, it is necessary to strictly follow establishment requirements and, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, establish national parks only when conditions are mature. It is necessary to scientifically regulate spatial order, establish a territorial spatial planning system for national parks, and scientifically divide spaces for protection, restoration, and rational use. It is necessary to carefully restore overall habitats, uphold the concept that mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands, and deserts form a community of life, and pay greater attention to comprehensive, systematic, and source-based governance. It is necessary to continuously promote ecological benefits for the people, with a focus on properly solving livelihood issues so that the people can gain real benefits. It is also necessary to vividly tell the story of China’s national parks, showcase construction achievements to the world, and widely spread Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization.
Shi Xiaolin said that Sichuan, as an important water conservation area in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and an important water supply area in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, firmly implements Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization. In the new era of western development, Sichuan gives top priority to major protection, coordinates high-quality development with high-level protection, comprehensively advances the construction of Giant Panda National Park, actively promotes the creation of Zoige National Park, plans and builds Gongga Mountain National Park, and accelerates the building of a Beautiful Sichuan. National parks protect the most important natural ecosystems, the most unique natural landscapes, the most essential natural heritage, and the richest biodiversity in China. Taking this forum as an opportunity, Sichuan will strive to protect precious biodiversity resources and accelerate the construction of a demonstration area for flagship species protection. It will work to protect, restore, and conserve the ecological environment, continuously enhance the stability of ecosystems in the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers, innovate and apply modern technologies, steadily promote smart and intelligent governance of national parks, improve protection and management systems and mechanisms, and continuously strengthen institutional guarantees for ecological civilization construction, contributing Sichuan’s strength to the building of a Beautiful China.
Qiao Wenbo said that national parks are one of the most powerful tools we have for protecting nature. Strengthening national park construction is not only about expanding their area, but also about improving their quality, inclusiveness, and resilience. New Zealand is willing to cooperate with China and other countries in the field of national parks, so that national parks can continue to protect nature, nourish life, and jointly create a better future for the Earth.
The forum was jointly hosted by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, also known as the National Park Administration, and the People’s Government of Sichuan Province. Participants included officials from relevant national ministries and commissions, academicians and renowned experts and scholars from research institutes and universities, as well as some diplomatic envoys in China and representatives of international organizations. The forum included one main forum and three sub-forums, focusing on topics such as national park legislation, spatiotemporal intelligence supporting the sustainable development of national parks, policy innovation and practical exploration in national parks, public sharing and community governance, flagship species protection, and monitoring technology innovation. Participants exchanged experience and discussed development. A themed exhibition on national park construction achievements was held at the same time. The first five national parks, relevant research institutions, well-known enterprises, and others comprehensively displayed major achievements, innovative products, and significant results in national park construction through pictures, physical products, videos, and other forms.
Since the launch of the national park system pilot program in 2015, China has planned and laid out the world’s largest national park system, coordinated the integrated protection and systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands, and deserts, and achieved large-scale, all-element overall improvement of ecosystems. The diversity, stability, and sustainability of national park ecosystems have been significantly enhanced. National parks have brought more new development opportunities to local communities. “Lucid waters and lush mountains” have become “invaluable assets” for the people, and the people’s sense of gain and happiness has continued to increase. A unified and standardized management system has gradually taken shape, and the basic framework of the national park system with Chinese characteristics has been largely established. The development of China’s national parks has achieved a historic transformation from pilot exploration and formal establishment to comprehensive advancement. (Reporters: Cao Yun, Guo Dingdong and Kong Xiangrui)
(Source: China Green Times)