What comes to mind when you think about conservation in China?

Pandas?  The demands of Traditional Chinese Medicine on threatened species?  The challenges generated by  unprecedented development and a population of over a billion people?

Considering its rapid economic growth, enormous human population and strong cultural relationship with biodiversity and the environment, China embodies the key conservation challenges of our time on an epic scale. China’s ability to meet conservation targets is of global significance.  On 13 December, ZSL will host a scientific meeting to explore the issues underpinning this crucial process and to share our experiences of establishing conservation initiatives in China.

China’s biological resources are among the richest globally. It is home to over 10% of the world’s species and its vast area of 9.6 million square kilometers (nearly 40 times the size of the UK) encompasses a tremendous range of habitats, including glaciers, coral reefs, deserts and tropical rainforests. China’s rapid industrialization and economic development has taken an inevitable toll on this biodiversity: the IUCN Red List features 862 threatened species, over 15% of which are Critically Endangered or Extinct in the Wild.  As China seeks to balance its national conservation imperatives and international agreements with continued economic growth and use of natural resources, a paradox emerges.  Home to the world’s most famous conservation icon (giant panda) and, formerly, the most recently extinct mammal (Yangtze River dolphin), China’s passion for wildlife must be tempered by efforts to protect natural resources. While many of the environmental problems China faces are universal, there are also unique areas that must be addressed to ensure a sustainable future for China’s biodiversity, economic growth and cultural values.

This event will offer a balanced view of the current and predicted situation, presented by speakers with substantial experience of managing conservation projects in China.

Dr Glyn Davies (Director of Programmes, WWF-UK) will chair the evening, providing insight from WWF’s considerable experience of Chinese conservation projects.

Dr Sam Turvey (Royal Society Research Fellow based at the Institute of Zoology) will describe China’s long history of intense exploitation of the natural world. This historical perspective will set the scene for a series of talks chronicling the progression of biodiversity conservation, against a backdrop of China’s unique cultural heritage and perception of natural resource use and management.  China is a fascinating conservation case study. On the one hand it is a country where biodiversity is highly prized and, at times, rigorously managed though large-scale ex situ breeding initiatives. On the other, this area of the world is experiencing a large-scale extinction crisis that can seem insurmountable given its rapid economic development and population expansion.

Dr Bosco Chan from Kadoorie Conservation China (part of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden in Hong Kong) will speak about protecting the world’s rarest primate, the Hainan gibbon, and his experiences of other projects in South China.

Helen Meredith (DICE and ZSL) will examine the case of the Chinese giant salamander, looking at what can be learned from conservation for sustainable resource use.

Dr Tony Whitten (Fauna & Flora International) will give a talk entitled “Conservation in China: unique challenges or outstanding opportunities – a personal view”, rounding off the evening with some positive directions and opportunities for the future.

The story of conservation in China is as compelling as it is urgent. Developing insights into how to balance environmental issues with economic development in China could offer valuable understanding of these issues globally.  Rapid economic development presents conservation opportunities as well as obstacles, including increased funding for research and threat mitigation, improved public awareness of environmental issues, and the incentive to engage in international conservation agreements more fully.  China is beginning to respond to its many conservation issues, and much can be learned by comparing Eastern and Western approaches to sustainable environmental management.  Ultimately, a hybrid approach might be of most value, ensuring conservation measures are effective and culturally appropriate.

This event will take place at 6.00pm on 13 December, in the ZSL Huxley Theatre.  The event is free and open to everyone.  For more information click ‘Conservation in China – Event’.

Science and Conservation events are organised by Dr Samuel Turvey and Helen Meredith