CBCGDF Deputy Secretary-General Linda WONG Attended Annual Online Meeting of IUCN Wilderness Specialist Group

"Wilderness" typically refers to large terrestrial or marine areas that remain largely undisturbed by modern human activities, retaining their natural characteristics and ecosystems, with human activities limited to low-impact and non-destructive practices. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies "Wilderness Areas" as Category Ib protected areas under its "Protected Area" framework, emphasizing their conservation purpose: to preserve the pristine state and natural features of vast undisturbed regions, ensuring ecosystem integrity and biodiversity.

In early 2025, the IUCN Wilderness Specialist Group (WSG) held its annual online meeting. As a member of the group, Linda WONG, Deputy Secretary-General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) and Editor-in-Chief of "OceanWetlands", participated virtually.

The meeting reviewed WSG’s operational framework and past efforts, detailed the group’s mission and vision, and summarized its achievements since establishment, along with its global impact on wilderness conservation. The moderator highlighted WSG’s active contributions to advancing wilderness area management, policy advocacy, and global research, while outlining future directions.

During the meeting, Linda WONG shared several insights and recommendations:

Promoting the "Wilderness" Concept in Marine Conservation:

With the anticipated entry into force of The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) this year, she proposed integrating the "wilderness" concept into the establishment and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and High Seas Protected Areas.

Engagement at the 2025 World Conservation Congress (WCC):

The WCC 2025, a quadrennial global event organized by IUCN, will convene governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, and communities in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to address the triple planetary crises of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Linda suggested organizing wilderness-focused activities at the congress to advance the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

Context-Sensitive Wilderness Protection Policies:

Emphasizing the need to align wilderness conservation with national realities, she noted that strategies must account for diverse resource needs, geographies, climates, biodiversity profiles, and cultural contexts. She highlighted innovative approaches like urban "rewilding" (e.g., Beijing’s "ecological ‘blank spaces’ retention and green space expansion" policy) and localized practices such as sacred forests in Yunnan (e.g., Longlin, though small in area, effectively preserve high biodiversity).

Expanding the Scope of "Wilderness":

Linda proposed broadening the concept beyond land use to include policies for protecting ancient and notable trees, conserving sacred mountains, and safeguarding natural forests in forestry management. She suggested future research explore these intersections.

(Note: This article is a routine work record, reflecting personal views and information for reference only.)

Editor: Samantha 

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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