Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2023 releases declaration for natural protected area development

The Guiyang Declaration is released at the forum to promote natural protected area system construction. [Photo/Eco Forum Global Guiyang]

A sub-forum "Preserving beauty of nature and promoting green development: Towards a high-quality system of natural protected areas" was held during the Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2023 in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, on July 8.

Over 250 renowned experts and scholars from both domestic and international backgrounds gathered to discuss the high-quality development of the natural protected area system with a focus on national parks.

At the sub-forum, the International Union for Conservation of Nature presented certification to 13 natural protected areas in China that were selected for the "IUCN Green List."

Additionally, the IUCN unveiled the Guiyang Declaration, which proposes a comprehensive approach centered around ecological civilization to establish and improve the natural protected area system, promoting global biodiversity conservation and human well-being.

It emphasizes strict protection measures to ensure intergenerational inheritance, advocates for government-led initiatives with multi-stakeholder participation, and aims to enhance the diversity, stability, sustainability of ecosystems.

The ultimate goals are to advance the high-quality construction of the natural protected area system, strengthen the supply capacity of ecological products, and safeguard ecological security.

The release of the Guiyang Declaration showcased China's approach in realizing the harmony between humanity and nature, contributing to global ecological civilization construction and green development.