As dawn breaks on a new era of technological advancement, over 4,000 delegates from 150 countries and regions gathered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on the Chinese mainland this week for the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves. The UNESCO-led event highlights how cutting-edge digital tools could revolutionize environmental conservation while balancing human development needs.
Under the theme 'Biosphere Reserves: Model Regions for Sustainable Development,' participants are sharing strategies to protect 748 UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves worldwide. Key discussions focus on leveraging artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and remote sensing technologies to monitor ecosystems, predict environmental changes, and engage communities in conservation efforts.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences Lidia Arthur Brito emphasized the historic opportunity: 'This congress marks a turning point where technology becomes our ally in preserving biodiversity. By integrating digital solutions with traditional ecological knowledge, we can create sustainable livelihoods while protecting our planet's life-support systems.'
The week-long forum includes workshops on green financing mechanisms, climate-resilient agriculture, and cross-border conservation initiatives. A special session highlighted China's ecological civilization initiatives, showcasing how the country has established 34 biosphere reserves covering 3% of its territory since joining the program in 1978.
