China's Global Mangrove vision takes root in Shenzhen

Backed by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the Guangdong provincial government, and the city of Shenzhen, the center was first proposed by China at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 2022. It launched in 2024 with representatives from 18 founding members, and, in August this year, Zimbabwe and Sudan joined as the 19th and 20th members. The center also works closely with the UN Development Program and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Bao Daming, director general of the IMC Interim Secretariat, said Shenzhen is providing "all-round support in personnel, facilities, and funding, laying a solid foundation for the center's long-term growth." He added that the upcoming Mangrove Wetland Museum, expected to open in 2028, will serve as a global hub for education, research, and international cooperation.