Locations
Christophe Bahuet, UNDP China Country Director visiting Honghu Lake part of Wetland project in Hubei
(Originally published on 02/11/2015)
From February 10th to 11th, Mr. Christophe Bahuet, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China Country Director visited the Honghu Lake project demonstration site and met provincial and project officers. The main objective behind the visit was to strengthen UNDP’s strategic partnership with the government of Hubei province and provide guidance on effective implementation of the Hubei project.
The UNDP-Global Environment Facility (GEF) China Wetland Mainstream of Life Programme Hubei Project was launched in 2014 to strengthen the management effectiveness of the wetland protected area system of Hubei province. Wetlands in Hubei provide refuge to a host of globally significant species. Unfortunately, human activities have led to drastic wetland degradation and a vulnerable ecosystem.
The visit highlighted that so far the project has been successfully implemented with two provincial nature reserves applying to be included in the Ramsar site on the List of Wetlands of International Importance. Moreover, the project is building the wetlands’ capacity by assessing wetland protected areas staff’s ability to manage ecosystems and developing a comprehensive training plan for provincial ecosystem management.
“A great foundation has been laid for this project with its superior design and successful implementation process,” said Mr. Bahuet. “The good rapport between the provincial governments and protected areas will enhance the implementation process. To this end, I suggest that given the success, conservation efforts of Hubei should not be limited to the restoration of wetland ecosystem but should also address the issues at the lower basin level of Yangtze River.”
“Hubei province has an abundance of water resources,” said Mr. Zhou Jianhua, the Associate Counsel of Hubei Provincial Forestry Department. The provincial government has put great efforts on wetland management and protection, which includes drafting legislation and constructing wetland parks. “The project will help promote and guide the wetland conservation work in Hubei. We will strive our best to make it a successful and replicable model.”
To achieve greater change and impact, the project also requires greater public participation. Mr. Bahuet hoped that the project will effectively engage the private sector into the wetland’s conservation efforts.
Mr. Liu Xinchi, Head of Hubei Provincial Forestry Department thanked UNDP’s long term support to Hubei’s wetland conservation efforts. Mr. Bahuet expressed that the project office should utilize resources and explore further opportunities to mainstream biodiversity conservation and wetland management into the government agenda, especially the future Five Year Plan.
