Hangzhou, September 23, 2025 — The Parallel Forum on “Synergizing Climate and Biodiversity to Support Green Development of the Biosphere”, a key event of the 5^th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, was successfully convened in Hangzhou. The forum was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institutes of Science and Development (CASISD), bringing together over 100 representatives from government agencies, international organizations, universities and research institutions, think tanks, and enterprises.

The forum focused on the synergistic governance of climate change and biodiversity, exploring ways to enhance the comprehensive functions of biosphere reserves through integrated approaches.

In the opening remarks, Antonio Abreu, Director of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, Secretary of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, UNESCO, emphasized that “climate change and biodiversity loss are not separate crises, but deeply interconnected challenges that require integrated solutions. Biosphere reserves are living laboratories where such solutions can be tested, adapted, and scaled.”

GAN Quan, Vice President of CASISD, highlighted the urgency of exploring new pathways for climate–biodiversity synergies. She stressed the importance of innovative governance models that can simultaneously achieve ecological protection and socio-economic development, identifying biosphere reserves as critical laboratories for piloting such integrated approaches.

Throughout the forum, experts and practitioners presented best practices from biosphere reserves in China and abroad, showcasing innovative projects that demonstrate how climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation can be advanced together. Participants also discussed mechanisms for strengthening cross-sectoral communication and establishing platforms for long-term collaboration. These exchanges provided valuable insights for the sustainable management of biosphere reserves and reinforced the forum’s role as a platform for knowledge sharing and partnership building.

In his concluding remarks, LIU Ning, Deputy Director General of the Department of Nature and Ecology Conservation within the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, underscored that the objectives of the MAB Programme are highly aligned with those of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. He emphasized their mutual reinforcement in promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, and noted that future efforts will focus on enhancing target alignment, strengthening research–policy linkages, and deepening international cooperation to jointly address global challenges.

The 5^th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves marks the first time the congress has been held outside Europe and the Americas, reflecting the strong international recognition of China’s achievements in the MAB field over the past 50 years. As an important component of the congress, this parallel forum addressed key issues of global ecological governance and provided a high-level international platform for dialogue and cooperation.

The opening remarks and keynote speeches were chaired by Professor WANG Yi of CASISD. Associate Professor GU Baihe and Assistant Professor WEI Yu from CASISD, also participated in the forum.

Parallel Forum