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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
HANGZHOU, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) — Around 4,000 representatives from more than 150 countries and regions gathered in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, to attend the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves and discuss issues related to the protection of biosphere reserves and the implementation of sustainable development.
A new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is currently accelerating, driven by rapid breakthroughs in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology, which is creating favorable conditions for a joint response to global environmental challenges, noted Hou Jianguo, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
ANC Academician Guo Huadong, also Director of the UNESCO International Space Technology Centre for Natural and Cultural Heritage, believes that technologies such as big data, remote sensing, and AI can be integrated into a unified technological framework. This synthesis provides more effective support for the protection of sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems.
"The biosphere reserve itself represents a model of sustainable development and, in essence, is a region that has already achieved sustainable development. Studying these model zones will help more effectively advance efforts to create a community with a shared future for humanity," said Guo Huadong.
The 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, taking place from September 22 to 25, is being held in Asia for the first time. Following the congress, the Hangzhou Action Plan will be endorsed, which aims to guide the implementation of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme over the next decade.
UNESCO launched this program in 1971 to promote sustainable management of natural resources in the interaction between humans and nature. It operates through the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, which includes 759 sites in 136 countries.
Approximately every 10 years, UNESCO convenes the World Congress of Biosphere Reserves to assess progress, share experiences, and define priorities and goals for the Man and the Biosphere Programme. The previous congress was held in 2016 in Lima, Peru, and resulted in the adoption of the Lima Action Plan (2016-2025).
Roman Nazarov, a herpetologist from Uzbekistan, expressed his expectations regarding the Hangzhou Action Plan, emphasizing the important role of international cooperation in protecting nature and developing specific measures for the sustainable use of natural resources.
Animal habitats are not limited by human borders, making cross-border cooperation even more important, he added.
Guo Huadong also noted that some migratory birds, for example, cross the borders of several countries every year. These movements are an integral part of global living systems. However, inconsistent conservation policies across countries pose a threat to ecosystem stability, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated international efforts.
China officially joined the Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1973 and established a national committee for the programme five years later. To date, 34 nature reserves in China have been designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, making the country the leader in Asia in terms of the number of such sites.
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