Global recognition! Loess Plateau, Yancheng Wetlands emerge as global ecological models

Faced with the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation, Stewart Maginnis, deputy director general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, believes China is no longer just offering a vision; instead, it is handing over a practical toolbox for global ecological governance.

He pointed to two standout Chinese ecological cases: the restoration of the Loess Plateau and the removal of invasive spartina from the coastal wetlands of Yancheng in Jiangsu.

"One of the very first Nature-based Solutions we identified is the restoration of the Loess Plateau that was highly degraded, and brought back into vibrant biodiversity and vibrant productivity. It's the real coexistence of man and nature."

Maginnis notes the projects deliver value on both practical and systemic levels.

"I think there are multiple lessons down at the site level, how to do things, but then I think there is more from the governance perspective."The Chinese approach, he said, is not simply about creating isolated protected areas but about "bringing nature right through all of society and all sectors."