How to view China's protection of bio-diversity?

As one of the countries with the richest bio-diversity in the world, China signed the "Convention on Biological Diversity" in 1992. Since then, China has embarked on a path of bio-diversity conservation with "Chinese wisdom". British environmentalist Terry Townshend had an exclusive interview with China News Agency's "East Meets West" recently, and explained that China's protection of bio-diversity over the past few decades is not only reflected in the protection of a certain species, but also in the maintenance and balance of the integrity of the whole ecosystem, to achieve a compatible symbiosis between rapid economic development and the protection of the natural environment.

Terry Townshend, a British environmentalist, holds a master's degree in environmental economics from the University of Essex, UK. He has worked for Globe International and the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). He is currently the senior consultant of the Paulson Institute's ecological protection project, a member of BirdLife International's global advisory group, and the founder of the "Birding Beijing" website. He has been based in Beijing since 2010.

What was your original intention for starting “Birding Beijing” in China 12 years ago? As an environmentalist, what are your views on bio-diversity?

I have always been devoted to environmental protection. At first, "Birding Beijing" was just a personal travel journal to record what I saw and heard in China. Later, more and more people came to Beijing after browsing the website, so I decided to make it a "business card" for getting to know the wild animals in Beijing.

Many people were under the impression that Beijing was just a "polluted" city back then. But in fact, there are more than 500 species of wild birds in Beijing. According to the survey, Beijing has the second highest bird population among the G20 capitals, after Brasilia. What is even more surprising is that there are nearly 600 species of wild animal in Beijing, which are like jewels in the crown. By establishing “Birding Beijing”, people are able to become more aware of bio-diversity in Beijing, because the first step in conservation is understanding.

Bio-diversity refers to an ecosystem composed of animals and plants. If something is missing, it will lead to an ecological imbalance. Globally, vertebrate populations have declined by an average of 68% over the past 50 years. If we continue down this path, we will face the loss of 30-50% of the species by the middle of the 21st century, threatening economies and public health, and posing enormous risks to human well-being. As humans, a species in nature, while shaping the world with powerful capabilities, we must also take responsibility for the natural world.

A Turdus pallidus in Beijing. Credit: Terry Townshend

During your 12-year stay in China, which place has left the deepest impression on you? In relation to bio-diversity, what are the new changes in China now?

When I first arrived in China in 2010, I started traveling around. I went to Northeast China and it was full of birds singing. Beijing is a birdwatching paradise, and the number of migratory birds in Beijing is unprecedented in the UK or Europe. The mountains in Qinghai are particularly beautiful, where top predators such as snow leopards, wolves, and brown bears are found. I was blown away by the number of birds in Inner Mongolia, the birds chirping like an orchestra at dawn. In Sichuan, I saw saxicola torquata, ficedula parva, and pandas, which are unique to the world. I have also been to Xinjiang, which has the most abundant biological resources. China has mountains, rivers, amazing forests and caves, all of which impress me a lot.

For more than ten years, I have witnessed many changes in China. For example, China's east coast is the only stopover for many migratory birds, and during the period of rapid development, China's policy to protect the habitat of migratory birds in the Yellow (Bo) Sea is very strong. What’s more, China has continued to strengthen the construction of relevant laws such as the Environmental Protection Law and the Wildlife Protection Law in recent years. China's view on ecological civilization is in essence an understanding of environmental health and economic health. Mankind still has a long way to go. Bio-diversity protection cannot rely on China alone. All countries in the world must make efforts in this direction.

In the Keyouzhong Banner of Inner Mongolia, Siberian swans migrate here in spring and autumn every year. Credit: China News Agency, Dan Su.

China not only has rare birds, but also abundant wildlife resources. It is one of the countries with the richest bio-diversity in the world. What role do you think China has played in protecting bio-diversity?

Over the past 20 years, China's awareness and understanding of environmental protection has grown tremendously. The only way to slow and stop the loss of global bio-diversity is to ensure enough attention, so now many organizations and individuals in China are starting to focus on protecting species or regions.

For example, some organizations in Yunnan focus on the protection of gibbons, there are organizations in Jiangsu specializing in wetland protection for "one of the eight bird migration routes in the world" there, and also the Qinghai-Tibet ecological protection project that I personally participated in. In 2021, Kunming also hosted the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). China's protection of bio-diversity is not only reflected in the protection of a certain species, but also in the maintenance and balance of the integrity of the ecosystem. As early as a few years ago, China started to set its sights on the world.

Yunnan Pu'er Sun River National Park conducted a background survey on 57 species of wild animals under the national priority protection in the area. The picture shows the staff measuring the decibel of the call of the Hoolock. Credit: China News Agency, Ranyang Liu

The "Valley of the Cats" project initiated by you and the Shanshui Nature Conservation Center of Peking University has provided practical help for the economic development and animal protection of Yushu, Qinghai. How is the core view of "responding to funding gaps and government policy coordination" in bio-diversity conservation reflected in this project?

The first time I went to Qinghai, I found that the people were happy and healthy in body and mind. They are environmentalists themselves, and I was just finding a way to encourage them. On the one hand, we coordinate with the local government to welcome tourists from all over the world to Qinghai. The food and lodging are all in the homes of local residents. The residents lead tourists to look at scenic spots and wild animals and plants. Local residents also take pictures and videos of these wild creatures and send them to the Beijing Research Center, where they get paid accordingly. Thus, local residents have more income and are proud of where they live, they also realize the value of protecting nature. Western China and other relatively poor regions can also learn from this model.

At this stage, there is a large funding gap for bio-diversity conservation, and the global annual funding gap is more than 700 billion US dollars. Closing the funding gap will largely depend on government policies such as reforming harmful subsidies (agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors), reducing investment risks, and supporting financial input. At the same time, enterprises can also play a key role in natural infrastructure and green financial products.

Bio-diversity protection is like an "insurance policy" in people's daily life. When human beings face biological risks, economic risks, and epidemic risks, financial support for nature protection is a kind of insurance.

In the source of the Lancang River in Zaduo County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, herdsmen earn money by providing guides, accommodation and other services for nature observation enthusiasts, witnessing ecological dividends in ecological protection. The picture shows a group of nature observation enthusiasts and herdsmen at the 2018 Angsai International Nature Observation Festival. Credit: China News Agency, Yunpeng Luo.

What is the reason for the lack of implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity since 1992? As the presidency of COP15 and the largest developing country, what experience and inspiration can China provide to the world in bio-diversity conservation?

There is insufficient awareness of bio-diversity risks, including by governments and the general public. Bio-diversity protection requires sufficient attention and policy support from leaders of various countries on the one hand, and sufficient financial support on the other. In fact, given that the world is experiencing a global bio-diversity crisis, investing in nature is very rewarding.

COP15 held in Kunming, China in 2021 is important. The Chinese government has issued policy documents to support bio-diversity conservation mechanisms, strengthened supervision and financial support, and encouraged enterprises to invest in and protect bio-diversity. But bio-diversity conservation cannot rely on the efforts of one country. As the host of the conference and the largest developing country, China has brought together many countries and international organizations, so that the world has reached a common agreement. In recent years, China has elevated the construction of ecological civilization to a national strategy, and has continuously improved its investment in environmental legislation and related scientific research projects, which is a manifestation of a responsible great power.

The COP15 Seed Wall on display at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, Yunnan, in 2021. Credit: China News Agency, Nan Cui.

In recent years, China has incorporated ecological management into national laws and policy systems and key development plans. As an ecological consultant for the governments of Beijing and Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, what role do you think these measures have played?

The Chinese government has put forward the idea of ecological civilization and made more scientific and professional actions in legislation. I think China has found a balance between economic growth and environmental protection. Countries such as China and Costa Rica have many good examples and experiences. It is very important for other countries to actively learn from these experiences and replicate them as much as possible.

You once said in your article that "bio-diversity loss poses risks to human prosperity and well-being. It requires a comprehensive global effort to assess, protect and restore nature", how do we understand this sentence?

Mankind is part of nature, and if we destroy other species around our lives, we are essentially destroying the "life network" of humans. The public health problems and economic and social risks arising from bio-diversity loss are immeasurable. On the positive side, I think the awareness of bio-diversity conservation comes from the government and the people, that is, people are more aware of the importance of the environment and nature.

How can we encourage the younger generation to have a deeper understanding bio-diversity conservation and take more responsibility for it in the future? How can we pass on the concept of "protecting bio-diversity" from generation to generation?

When I was 4 years old, I saw a beautiful birds in the garden, and my parents bought me a book about birds. I was very interested in nature when I was a child, and when I grew up, I started to do research and work related to it.

A British professor suggested that the education of bio-diversity conservation should be done as early as possible. I also think that children are innately curious about nature. We have a responsibility to let the younger generation connect with nature from early ages, and tell them the migration and changes of species through stories. I believe there are more interesting stories waiting for people to discover, and I expect more young people to participate in projects and teams that study bio-diversity.