On October 15, 2024, the International Mayor’s Roundtable on Wetland Cities convened at the Yellow River estuary in Dongying, Shandong Province. More than 200 representatives from countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and Morocco gathered to discuss wetland conservation and urban sustainable development.
During the opening ceremony, Yan Zhen, Deputy Director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, emphasized the importance of certifying and building international wetland cities. He described it as a vital practice in implementing the Ramsar Convention and the World Urban Campaign, which is crucial for biodiversity conservation, optimizing urban-rural ecological environments, enhancing the quality of urban and rural development, and improving the livelihoods of citizens.
Yan highlighted the Chinese government’s commitment to strengthening legal protections for wetlands, innovating conservation mechanisms, and promoting ecological restoration. He also noted ongoing international cooperation efforts, particularly in supporting developing countries in building their wetland protection capacities.
Jay Aldous, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, acknowledged the dual-edged nature of rapid urbanization, which, while beneficial, poses significant pressures and negative impacts on wetland ecosystems. The international certification program for wetland cities, launched by the Ramsar Convention, aims to foster collaboration among cities with wetland ecosystems, encouraging a collective effort toward global wetland conservation and addressing climate change.
Xu Shengwu, Executive Director of the Ramsar Convention East Asia Regional Center, commented on the stark changes brought about by climate change, urging the international community to unite in tackling these pressing issues.
Wen Nuan, Deputy Governor of Shandong Province, reiterated the province’s commitment to prioritizing wetland protection through strict management, systematic governance, scientific restoration, and rational use. He expressed the province’s intent to learn from both domestic and international experiences in wetland protection, restoration, management, and sustainable development, seeking a balanced approach between comprehensive protection and reasonable utilization.
Dongying, recognized as one of the world’s first “International Wetland Cities,” has developed a unique wetland restoration model at the Yellow River estuary. Yang Guoqiang, Secretary of the Dongying Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, expressed the city’s intention to combine wetland conservation with urban development, promoting harmony and integration between the two. “We aim to leverage this conference as an opportunity for in-depth, mutually beneficial cooperation with wetland cities at home and abroad, advancing the global wetland conservation movement,” he stated.
