Locations
The audiences look at paintings from the Bird-loving Weekend painting competition
(Originally published on 03/21/2015)
To raise public awareness on wildlife protection, under the Hainan Project, the Hainan Forestry Department and Ding'An County People’s government co-hosted the “Bird-Loving Week and World Wildlife Day” on March 21. The Hainan project is part of the greater United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Global Environment Facility (GEF) Wetland Protected Area System Strengthening for Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
Themed as paying attention to bird protection and guarding our green homeland, the bird-loving week featured activities like themed painting and essay writing competition, in turn raising awareness of wildlife in Hainan.
“Hainan is abundant with tropical forestry and wetland resources. It was a delight to see that the number of wildlife in Hainan has been accumulating in recent years with our efforts in wetland and forestry restoration,” Ms. Liu Yanling, Deputy Director of Hainan Forestry Department said when officially announcing the establishment of the Hainan Provincial Bird Rescue Station.
“The bird rescue station filled a gap in our wildlife conservation efforts,” said Ms. Liu, “because now when people find an injured bird, they know where to go.” She addressed the urgent need for more people to start paying attention to the wildlife that resides on the Hainan Island. She reiterated that the wildlife’s existence depends on our protection of the forest and wetland.
During the event, visitors try to solve riddles related to wildlife conservation.
“The Chinese government has put great efforts on wildlife conservation during the past years,” said Mr. John Mackinnon, the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of UNDP-GEF Wetland PA System Strengthening for Biodiversity Conservation Programme, “however, we can also see the accumulated pressures from economy development on the ecosystem protection.” He suggested that the government should strengthen their cooperation with international organizations, so they could learn lessons and experiences in wildlife conservation.
In 2013, UNDP partnered with Hainan Forestry Department and Dongzhaigang Nature Reserve to launch the UNDP-GEF Hainan project, aiming at strengthening the management effectiveness of wetland protected area system in Hainan. The five-year project will tackle the existing and emerging threats to the globally significant biodiversity and ecosystem in Hainan, which in return will contribute to the provincial economy, bringing ecological and social benefits to local residents.
