Harmonious Coexistence between Human and Nature, Beautiful China Development | Ecology | China

The sky is bluer, the mountains are greener, and the water is clearer. In recent years, great strides have been made in building a beautiful China. Green has become the distinctive background of China in the new era, and green development has become a prominent feature of Chinese path to modernization. In the eyes of many foreign professionals engaged in ecological and environmental protection work, China is firmly committed to the path of green development, expanding its green territory, and benefiting both China and the world.

Co founder of the International Water Resources Association and the World Water Council, Bisworth——

Effective measures for ecological and environmental governance in China

Visiting Professor Asit Bisworth from the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom is one of the co founders of the International Water Resources Association and the World Water Council. Since his first invitation to visit China in 1980 to provide advice on the planning of the South to North Water Diversion Project, he has come to China almost every year to participate in inspections and exchanges related to environmental governance.

In recent years, China has made significant achievements in ecological civilization construction, and its determination to make great efforts in environmental governance has left a deep impression on Bisworth. In 2013, China issued the Action Plan for Air Pollution Prevention and Control, proposing 10 articles and 35 specific measures for air pollution prevention and control. "This is a very challenging task, and few countries in the world can achieve this goal in a short period of time." Bisworth said that in the past 10 years, China has achieved remarkable results in air pollution control, with more and more blue skies and less pollution. "International organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme, have repeatedly mentioned successful cases of China's air pollution control in relevant reports, and China's achievements in environmental protection have been recognized worldwide."

Protecting in development, developing in protection. China adheres to the concept that green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as gold and silver, and promotes the realization of green development. "China emphasizes the coordination and promotion of economic development and ecological protection, and the results achieved are inspiring." In Bisworth's view, China's effective ecological environment governance measures are not only due to the scientific and rigorous process of argumentation and implementation, such as conducting pilot projects in some areas first and then promoting them comprehensively, but also fully demonstrating China's institutional advantages. China has formulated a medium and long-term development plan, and environmental protection and ecological governance require long-term efforts. The continuity of policies is an important guarantee for China's ecological civilization construction to achieve significant results.

Bisworth is very interested in China's implementation of the river and lake chief system, which is unprecedented in other countries. During his investigation in the Yellow River, Yangtze River, and Hai River basins, Bisworth noticed that there were many river length information signs standing on the banks of the river. "Anyone who discovers signs of pollution can call the river chief. This innovative supervision mechanism has played a very positive role in the continuous and stable improvement of water quality," praised Bisworth.

Bisworth stated that with the rapid development of high-speed rail technology and the new energy vehicle industry, China is leading the world in improving the utilization rate of clean energy.

"China has overcome many impossibilities and achieved achievements that many countries have never achieved before." Bisworth said that China's significant achievements in the field of ecological environment are due to the formulation and implementation of a series of systems and measures suitable for its own national conditions. "Each country has its own unique cultural and economic characteristics, and needs to find a development path that suits itself. This is the greatest inspiration from China's green development experience."

Kang Musa, foreign researcher of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences——

Make more contributions to the conservation of biodiversity in Asia

In 2021, a group of wild Asian elephants from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, headed north and returned south, attracting the attention of the world. Among those who closely monitor this group of elephants is tropical ecologist Achimsa Campos Alsez from Spain. He has long focused on researching large mammals, especially elephants. Kang Musa stated that China has made significant efforts to protect rare and endangered species, including wild Asian elephants, and has achieved remarkable results.

Kang Musa is the leader of the Research Group on the Diversity and Protection of Large Mammals in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. 17 years ago, while still pursuing a doctoral degree, he visited the Banna Botanical Garden for the first time. "In 2020, when I officially joined the team of Banna Botanical Garden, I found that the research quality and achievements here have made leaps and bounds. Some Chinese colleagues are discipline leaders and have published important research results in the world's top academic journals."

Looking out from Kang Musa's office, it was lush and lush. "We also focus on researching tropical forests in Southeast Asia to protect the living environment of large mammals." Kang Musa also serves as the co editor of the academic journal "Comprehensive Conservation" hosted by Banna Botanical Garden, which is the first English language journal in China that focuses on biodiversity conservation research. "China attaches great importance to the comprehensive development of the scientific field and its strength in ecological protection is becoming increasingly strong," said Kang Musa.

Kang Musa stated that China is a country with great biodiversity, and comprehensively strengthening the construction of ecological civilization will help promote the concept of ecological civilization to deeply penetrate people's hearts. In addition, by jointly building cooperation platforms such as the "the Belt and Road", China is playing an increasingly important role in promoting international cooperation in biodiversity conservation.

In 2015, the Chinese Academy of Sciences established the Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center relying on the Banna Botanical Garden. Afterwards, the center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Myanmar and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Laos, carried out 9 joint field surveys on biodiversity between China and Myanmar, as well as 4 field surveys on biodiversity in the China Laos border area. A total of more than 880 new biological groups were discovered, greatly enriching the achievements of biodiversity in Southeast Asia and providing valuable visual and textual materials for Southeast Asian countries to strengthen the construction of nature reserves and apply for UNESCO related projects.

"Although located in a remote area, the Banna Botanical Garden brings together experts and scholars from multiple countries around the world, making it particularly attractive in the field of conservation research in tropical Asia." Kang Musa's research team is planning to launch field research projects in different countries in Southeast Asia, "which will yield important results in the next 3 to 5 years, hoping to make more contributions to biodiversity conservation in Asia.".

Terra, an environmental entrepreneur who started his business in Shijiazhuang——

China's energy-saving and environmental protection industry has enormous development potential

In the early morning, in a small community in Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, Terra Liluo went downstairs, unlocked the car, got on his bike, and quickly rode towards the company. "The road from home to work passes through multiple parks, and the scenery is particularly beautiful. Riding on the tree lined road is a pleasure." As an environmentalist, Terra cycles to work every day.

Terra, born in 1989, is Finnish. During her postgraduate studies, she studied as an exchange student at Peking University for six months. After graduating with a master's degree in 2016, Terra chose to settle in Shijiazhuang. Five years later, she founded an environmental protection enterprise in Shijiazhuang, providing energy-saving and emission reduction optimization solutions for boilers and cooling towers in power plants and steel enterprises.

"Nowadays, the environment in Chinese cities is getting better and better," Terra shared with reporters the changes she observed along the way while cycling. Especially in recent years, several pocket parks have been added near my doorstep, with more green spaces and a continuous increase in the number of days with blue and white clouds. After work, I often take my children to play football in the park. The park near my doorstep, as far as the deep Taihang Mountains, is a great place for Terra and children to get close to nature.

Terra's previous office was located near the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, and she noticed that many street lights in Shijiazhuang were equipped with solar panels. Moreover, the rotating fans in Zhangjiakou can deliver a large amount of clean energy to the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region. "China's energy structure is accelerating its green transformation, and resource utilization efficiency is constantly improving."

Having witnessed China's high attention and sustained efforts in ecological and environmental protection, Terra keenly realized the enormous potential for the development of China's energy conservation and environmental protection industry. At present, her company has represented 8 European energy-saving and emission reduction technologies and is actively exploring the Chinese market.

Terra said, "Next, I plan to invite more European expert teams and technology companies to visit China. By further strengthening the exchange and cooperation of environmental protection technologies between Europe and China, more advanced environmental protection technologies will take root and help promote green development."