A three-day Wetland biodiversity conservation workshop and China-ASEAN mangrove wetland conservation and restoration training programme concluded in Shenzhen on July 18, bringing together 60 government officials, conservation practitioners and researchers from China and Southeast Asia.
The program comprised field visits and discussions, shedding light on mangrove restoration, biodiversity monitoring, and measures to leverage sustainable economic and social value from ecosystem protection.
Field visits highlight ecological protection in a megacity
Program participants visited wetlands, parks, technological companies and major infrastructure projects across Shenzhen, showing how one of China's fastest-growing cities builds ecological protection into its DNA.
In the Guangming district, they saw how green corridors are woven into urban planning from the start. At the Futian Mangrove Reserve, a rare urban wetland surrounded by skyscrapers, they observed daily patrols, migratory bird habitat management and public education programs, proof that conservation can thrive even in the densest city centers.
On the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a mega sea-crossing bridge connecting cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, participants examined how coastal defenses and an ecological corridor were built into the design.
At Bao'an's western waterfront, they explored a development model that blends coastal landscapes, public spaces and international sports events, with plans for a global mangrove education hub underway. A visit to Tencent's headquarters revealed how digital tools support environmental governance.
In addition to field visits, a China-ASEAN workshop brought together representatives from Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, who shared local mangrove management practices, while Chinese experts presented blue carbon projects and community co-management models. A roundtable discussion identified common challenges and agreed on next steps for joint research.
The program closed with certificates presented by Shenzhen's planning and natural resources authorities, the Mangrove Conservation Foundation and the EarthCare Foundation.
Online training resources launched to further cooperation
Two major initiatives were delivered during the program. The first is a bilingual online course on China-ASEAN mangrove conservation, developed by the Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation and experts from participating countries. Designed for frontline practitioners, the course provides an ongoing platform for sharing technical knowledge and best conservation practices across the region.
The second is a research report titled Mangrove Conservation and the Sustainable Development of Local Communities in China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Based on field research and case studies from all four countries, the report offers policy recommendations for cross-border cooperation and community-based mangrove management.
The program demonstrated that wetland conservation can be integrated into urban planning, infrastructure development and community participation rather than treated as a standalone issue. According to Shenzhen's planning and natural resources authorities, they will continue expanding cooperation with ASEAN countries and other partners in the Asia-Pacific region, developing scalable approaches for coastal wetland protection.
The program was guided by the International Mangrove Center and co-hosted by the Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, the Ecology and Environment Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, and the Guangming District Government and Bao'an District Government.
Reporter | Ding Hefei, Wang Yaxin
Editor | Yin Juewen