China has solidified its position as the world leader in wetland conservation, with nine more cities receiving international wetland city accreditation at the COP15 meeting held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This brings China’s total to 22 accredited cities—the highest number globally.
The newly accredited cities are Chongming in Shanghai, Dali in Yunnan Province, Fuzhou in Fujian Province, Hangzhou and Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, Jiujiang in Jiangxi Province, Lhasa in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, and Yueyang in Hunan Province.
Johane Chenjekwa, mayor of Kasane in Botswana, praised China’s efforts in promoting wetland conservation. “We will see, as we interact, what we can learn from them. They are also willing to learn from how we do things here, so it’s really a great experience to be mingling together,” he said. Chenjekwa emphasized that joint efforts with China can help address the global challenge of wetland degradation.
Jay Aldous, deputy secretary-general of the Convention on Wetlands, highlighted the importance of integrating wetland preservation into urban planning. “Unplanned or poorly managed urban expansion has emerged as a global concern, contributing to the degradation of wetlands, loss of biodiversity, and escalating the impacts of climate change,” he said during his opening remarks at COP15.
In response to these challenges, the Convention on Wetlands launched the Wetland City Accreditation scheme to encourage cities to protect urban wetlands and include them in sustainable planning. “By embracing the convention’s principles of wise use, cities can harness the ecological, social, and economic benefits that wetlands provide, including climate adaptation and mitigation, flood regulation, cultural value, and improved human well-being,” Aldous added.
The COP15, themed “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” brought together contracting parties from around the world to strengthen international commitments to wetland protection. The conference will conclude on July 31.
