Enhancing International Cooperation for Global Biodiversity Conservation | CBCGDF China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Museum Opened

On the occasion of the second China’s National Ecology Day, the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Museum of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) was officially opened. Dr. ZHOU Jinfeng, Secretary General of CBCGDF, Mr. John E Scanlon AO, CEO of the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation, and representatives of volunteers inaugurated the Museum.

Mr. John E Scanlon AO is the Recipient of the 2020 Chinese Government Friendship Award, CEO of the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation, Chairman of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime.

The journalist from China.org.cn conducted an exclusive interview with Mr. John E Scanlon AO, who expressed his views on wildlife conservation, environmental challenges, international cooperation, and promoting global biodiversity conservation.

Here is the summary of the interview.

1. What are the background and programme of your visit to China?

John E Scanlon AO: There are several itineraries and topics for this visit to China. Firstly, after attending today’s inauguration of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Museum and the lecture, I will be attending the World Elephant Day event in Yunnan on 12 August. Elephants are now distributed in 13 countries and regions in Asia and 27 countries in Africa, all with relevant organizations and alliances. I hope that during this event, Asian and African countries can share their respective conservation experiences and achievements. The coexistence of human beings and elephants is an eternal state and topic, how to create a better living environment for elephants is my wish. I am also the CEO of the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) Foundation, and the Chairman of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime , and I hope that I can personally make my own contribution to this cause.

2. What do you think of China’s National Ecology Day?

John E Scanlon Ao: It is necessary and important that China, in its last two consecutive five-year plans and in its recent development, place special emphasis on ecological civilization and green development at the center of national development. The establishment of Ecology Day further focuses on ecological civilization and green development, which is a people-centered mobilization of the whole society to participate in the construction of ecological civilization and green development, which is extremely important.

3. What do you think is China’s role and contribution in international wildlife conservation and environmental governance?

John E Scanlon AO: China is an active participant and implementer in all international conventions, such the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on Wetlands, the Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), to which China is first and foremost a Contracting Party as well as an active co-operator. The significant role of China’s participation in these conventions is not only its active involvement globally, but more importantly, China’s active implementation of these conventions. Many countries have acceded to the conventions, but their implementation and landing are incomplete and unsatisfactory. China, on the other hand, has played a very good role as a model in implementing and putting these international conventions into practice. Its outstanding effects and practices have made great contributions to biodiversity conservation and to addressing the issue of climate change.

4. What is the current overall situation of global wildlife conservation? What is the current state of conservation of endangered species such as elephants and rhinos, and what are the challenges?

John E. Scanlon AO: Currently, there is the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which serves as an independent intergovernmental mechanism that responds to requests from governments and international conventions to carry out assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services at the global and regional scales. We have also seen that 1 million of the 8 million endangered animals are facing extinction. Therefore, the overall situation of global wildlife conservation is not very optimistic, and we hope that the downward trend can be curbed, or even an upward turning point. We hope that there will be a better protection of animals in the world’s oceans, wetlands and other levels.

On 18 December 2022, the second phase of CBD COP15, held in Montreal, Canada, reached a consensus on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Among them, we reached 23 targets, several of which are being actively promoted by all of us. In Asia and Africa, the protection of elephants has been effectively strengthened due to some improvements in climate, hunting, etc. We are still concerned about the protection of rhinoceros, as the habitat and breeding status of rhinoceros is not very optimistic, and the protection of rhinoceros in Africa in particular deserves our further attention.

5. Can you share your experience with the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime?

John E. Scanlon AO: Although countries have done a great deal to address the illegal trade in wildlife, the illegal trade in wildlife has not yet been sufficiently curbed. In addition to directly harming wildlife, the illegal trade in wildlife also profoundly harms habitats, soils and, indirectly, our climate. Poaching of plants, for example, reduces photosynthesis and further reduces carbon dioxide adsorption, and has a negative impact on budgets at the governmental level, affecting the environment, tourism, and many other aspects. The illegal trade in wildlife needs to be more adequately controlled.

6. What do you think are the causes of global biodiversity loss? What are the strategies to deal with it?

John E. Scanlon AO: There are many causes of biodiversity loss. According to IPBES,  there are 5 main causes: climate change, habitat loss, pollution, overconsumption and invasion species & disease.

7. What do you think about the relationship between climate change and environmental protection?

John E. Scanlon AO: Climate change and environmental impacts are intertwined. Climate change leads to biodiversity loss, and biodiversity loss further exacerbates climate change, because biodiversity is an important tool for addressing climate and CO2 adsorption, and the interconnectedness of the two needs to be harmonized and balanced by people working together.

8. What are elements and outcomes of the work of the Elephant Conservation Initiative Foundation and the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime?

John E. Scanlon AO: The Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation started 10 years ago in five African countries and has now grown to 25 countries, where a number of actions have been taken, such as banning the ivory trade, which has been fully stopped in China, and protecting elephant habitats. Currently, 25 countries have taken strong action to protect elephants.

The Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime involves two aspects, stopping wildlife trade and illegal hunting, and at the same time, from the perspective of global health, reducing the inappropriate intersection between humans and wildlife through the perspective of ending wildlife trade and crime, and reducing and moderating the incursion of viruses into human beings from wild animals in this way.

9. What role do you see the CBCGDF playing in global biodiversity conservation?

John E. Scanlon AO: CBCDGF has done a lot of work in global biodiversity conservation, from local to national to international, actively participate in global environmental governance, in biodiversity conservation and combating climate change need global cooperation, this cooperation is very valuable and necessary, further look forward to cooperation with CBCGDF.

Original Chinese Article:http://stzg.china.com.cn/m/2024-08/15/content_42895529.htm

Edited by: YJ
Checked By: Sara
Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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