12 June 2025|News
From May 20-22, 2025, the 3rd International Agrobiodiversity Congress was held in Kunming, Yunnan Province. The United Nations Environment Programme-International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), in collaboration with the Farmers' Seed Network (FSN) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, co-hosted a side-event titled Living Agrobiodiversity: Enhancing Multiple Stakeholders' Partnership and Supporting Integrated Community-based Actions for Food System Transformation, Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation. The event brought together over 40 participants from Asia, Europe, and South America.
With a focus on global progress in agrobiodiversity conservation, especially those emerging from the Global South, the speakers introduced five key areas of stakeholders engagement, which included the important role of seed banks in global biodiversity conservation; the practical significance of community participatory breeding in China; the practice of living agrobiodiversity in Southeast Asia; the linkage between regional conservation initiatives and on-farm agrobiodiversity in China; and community-based conservation and utilization efforts in Nepal. The speakers also shared experiences and lessons learned from their work.
During the panel discussion on Farm Agrobiodiversity Conservation and Utilization: Challenges and Opportunities, European scholars, representatives from Asian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), ethnic minority farmers from China, and entrepreneurs came together to exchange insights drawn from their own professional and personal experiences.
In her closing remarks, Prof. Linxiu Zhang, Director of UNEP-IEMP, thanked all speakers for their insightful presentations, which ranged in scale from local to global and addressed a wide spectrum of themes, including systems, communities, partnerships, and stakeholder roles. Director Zhang concluded with three key reflections. First, there is still considerable work to be done in elevating community experiences to the level of national policies and regulations, and the strengthening of partnerships will play a key role in supporting this effort. Second, the initiatives, actions, and solutions discussed at the event all contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, aligning these local efforts more directly to national and global biodiversity conservation strategies and action plans will be a critical next step. Third, achieving effective living agrobiodiversity conservation will require more systematic theories and approaches, stronger partnerships among farmers, communities, actors, scientists and government policymakers, and deeper knowledge across agricultural systems, including water resources, soil, fertilizers, pesticides, animal husbandry, and other elements of the agriculture chain.
Group photo of the participants
During the conference, the UNEP-IEMP team actively participated in a range of session presentations, side events, and roundtable discussions, introducing the team’s work on agrobiodiversity conservation in areas such as methodological innovations, international cooperation, stakeholder capacity building, and support for community-based practices. Through in-depth exchanges with both domestic and international participants, the team connected with a group of like-minded partners and further expanded opportunities for future collaboration.
06 June 2025|News
During June 3rd-5th, 2025, the "2025 China-Australia Workshop on Environmental Protection and Biodiversity" was organized successfully and fruitfully. The event was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Australian Academy of Science; and organized by the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR, CAS) and the United Nations Environment Programme - International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP). It took place at the IGSNRR, CAS, in Beijing.
With an overall aim to foster scientific collaboration between Chinese and Australian scientists in the fields of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, the workshop brought together over 50 participants from almost 20 institutions from both countries. Recognizing that both China and Australia face pressing challenges relating to biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, this workshop served as a platform for sharing latest research findings, best practices, and explore innovative approaches to support the policy development and actions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. It provided opportunities for scientists to present their work, engage in interdisciplinary dialogue, and establish meaningful scientific partnerships. The workshop co-chairs were Prof. Linxiu Zhang (Director, UNEP-IEMP) and Prof. Alan Andersen (Charles Darwin University).
The group photo of all participants
The joint workshop opened with brief welcoming remarks from Prof. Hongping He, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Prof. Chennupati Jagadish, President of the Australian Academy of Science; and Mr Timothy Sill, Counsellor (Industry, Science, and Resources) of the Australian Embassy in Beijing. All emphasized the importance of collaborative research and shared learning to tackle biodiversity challenges in the face of climate change.
The main part of the event consisted of insightful presentations around the main themes of terrestrial biomes, freshwater biome, marine biome and climate change. Following the presentations, participants actively engaged in discussions with the speakers, delving deeper into the topics covered. The last session was the roundtable discussion on developing joint research and policy recommendations, in which the participants discussed ideas on priorities for future collaborative China-Australia research on biodiversity and its protection, among others.
Prof. Linxiu Zhang and Prof. Alan Andersen Co-chaired the roundtable discussion
At the end of the workshop, Prof. Linxiu Zhang delivered her closing speech that the event was a real feast of scientific knowledge exchange. She thanked all the participants for the lively exchange. She also encouraged everyone to further the cooperation and appreciated the opportunity for UNEP-IEMP to play an important facilitation role.
28 April 2025|News
The United Nations Environment Programme -International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), in collaboration with Kenyan government agencies, community-based organizations, and academic institutions, is spearheading a groundbreaking mission in Busia County in April 2025. The initiative focuses on bamboo agroforestry, riverbank restoration, and climate-resilient housing to address ecosystem degradation and support development of local communities.
Targeting at restoration of 25 hectares of riparian land along the Nzoia River, the team implemented integrated approach for ecosystem restoration, with bamboo agroforestry as the core concept. Three species of bamboos (Bambusa vulgaris, Dendrocalamus asper, and Dendrocalamus giganteus), together with vetiver grass and Sesbania Sesbans were planted along 3km strip of the riverbanks in this long raining season to regulate floods, stabilize riverbanks and reduce soil erosion. Crops like maize, beans and vegetables were inter-cropped with the bamboos to provide food and incentives for community participation. This was conducted at the community recommended land, which was abandoned for the past 50 years due to frequent floods in the Lake Victoria Basin.
Community participated in bamboo plantation for riverbank restoration along the Nzoia River
This bamboo agroforestry initiative will not only build an ecological green belt along riverbanks with dense underground root system and above ground canopy, but also provide social economic value to the community, like food, fodder, pollinator, building and thatching material, medicinal herb and purified water. Such nature-based solution is being implemented and tested by the community as cost-effective approach for both short-term and long-term benefits in the flood zone.
Community participated in vetiver grass plantation for riverbank restoration along the Nzoia River
With capacity building as an integrated component of this initiative, two training sessions were organized during April 3rd-5th, focusing on sustainable bamboo cultivation and processing, bamboo agroforestry approach, bamboo propagation and sustainable bamboo plantation management. Around 100 community members were engaged and benefited from such technology transfer and trainings.
Training on bamboo propagation
This initiative also promotes sustainable use of bamboo resources for building climate resilient shelters, so as to boost the value chain development of bamboo industry. With a prototype of climate resilient bamboo house built at the Runguga Primary School last December, potential partners including Habitat for Humanity, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Kenya Red Cross visited the demo and discussed its upscaling potential as a shelter for seasonal flood refugees in Kenya and beyond.
Stakeholders visited the bamboo house at the Runguga Primary School, Busia
This initiative is supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences through its Sino-Africa Joint Research Center based in Nairobi, under the project entitled "Ecosystem Restoration for Enhancing Livelihoods and Addressing Climate Change: China-Kenya Cooperation on Bamboo Technology Transfer". This field mission was participated by the Kenya Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Intergovernmental Authority on Development,CentreofExcellenceforClimateAdaptationandEnvironmentalProtection (IGADCAEP), Habitat for Humanity, Busia Government, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), WaterResourceUsersAssociation and the local community.
27 February 2025|News
On February 19, 2025, Prof. Linxiu Zhang (Director of UNEP-IEMP), Dr. Xiangbo Xu, and Dr. Li Li attended the 2024 Annual Progress Review Meeting of the NSFC-UNEP project "The Regulation of Soil Biodiversity on Human and Livestock Pathogens and Its Risks to Human Health in Urban Ecosystems". The meeting was successfully held at the Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Xiamen.
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Xin Lu (Chief of the Science and Technology Division of the Institute of Urban Environment, CAS). Wencong Li (Chief of the International Science and Technology Cooperation Department, NSFC) and Prof. Linxiu Zhang both delivered opening speeches. The expert review session was chaired by Prof. Keping Ma (Leader of the expert group, Institute of Botany, CAS). The meeting was also attended by experts from the Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, CAS; South China Agricultural University; Institute of Soil Science, CAS; Huazhong Agricultural University; Nanjing Forestry University; Beijing Forestry University; and Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, CAS.
Prof. Sun Xin (Project leader, Institute of Urban Environment, CAS) reported on the project’s progress and research outcomes. The project integrates the strengths of the Institute of Urban Environment, CAS; Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, and Peking University, and collaborates with research teams from Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and other regions. By exploring urban soil biodiversity’s regulation of zoonotic pathogens and the associated human health risks, the project reveals the distribution patterns and driving mechanisms of urban soil biodiversity, making significant research progress. In addition, international cooperation and exchanges were further expanded this year, with 9 foreign experts hosted and 3 trips abroad, which greatly enhanced international collaborations.
The attending experts highly praised the project’s progress and provided guidance on international cooperation management, output formats, and progress contents. The research findings contribute to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring the well-being of urban residents, and promoting sustainable urban development. The project is funded by the international (regional) cooperation and exchange program jointly initiated by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which particularly focuses on supporting scientific and technological cooperation and research in developing countries in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.
26 February 2025|News
From February 20 to 21, 2025, the inaugural International Symposium on "Urban Biodiversity and Sustainable Development" (Asia Region) was successfully held in Xiamen, China. The event was co-hosted by the Biodiversity Committee of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and co-organized by the Institute of Urban Environment of CAS, the United Nations Environment Programme-International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), and the Urban Health and Wellbeing (UHWB) Programme of the International Science Council (ISC). Over 140 representatives from 31 universities, 14 research institutions, and 21 international organizations worldwide gathered to discuss future pathways for urban biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Linxiu Zhang, Director of UNEP-IEMP, emphasized that urban biodiversity has become a core issue in addressing climate change, enhancing residents' well-being, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She highlighted UNEP-IEMP’s efforts to assist local governments in integrating biodiversity conservation into urban development planning through support for implementing Target 12 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), as well as piloting urban ecological restoration projects in Asia and Africa. Dr. Zhang called for advancing urban green transitions through Nature-based Solutions (NbS), stressing that "science-enabled multi-stakeholder collaboration is key to unlocking the potential of urban biodiversity."
Ms. Linxiu Zhang delivering a speech at the opening ceremony
Experts unanimously agreed that scientific evidence must be swiftly translated into policy tools, with interdisciplinary collaboration bridging knowledge gaps. Cities, they noted, are not only centres for sustainable development challenges but also testing grounds for innovative solutions. The symposium injected new momentum into urban biodiversity research in Asia and showcased "Chinese wisdom" and "UN-driven approaches" for ecological governance in the global urbanization process.
26 February 2025|News
On February 21, 2025, at the invitation of Professor Lv Yonglong, Director Zhang Linxiu, Dr Xu Xiangbo and Dr Li Li of UNEP-IEMP visited the College of the Environment & Ecology at Xiamen University and delivered an academic presentation titled "Strengthening Climate-Ecosystem-Livelihoods Synergies to Enhance the Resilience of Agri-Food Systems."
In her presentation, Director Zhang Linxiu provided a detailed introduction to the institutional positioning of UNEP-IEMP, its flagship program, and the international cooperation projects between the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and UNEP. She highlighted the center's latest research findings in three areas: First, the economic and environmental benefit analysis and regulatory strategies for dietary structure adjustments in rural China; second, the role of women's empowerment in Asia in enhancing crop and dietary diversity; and third, ecosystem-based approaches to improving livelihood resilience in developing countries. After the presentation, Director Zhang Linxiu and UNEP-IEMP team engaged in an in-depth discussion with the faculty and students present, further promoting exchanges and cooperation of UNEP-IEMP in the field of ecology and sustainable development.
24 December 2024|News
From December 12th to 17th, 2024, members of UNEP-IEMP participated in the launch meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange (NSFC-UNEP) Project "Land-Sea Migration Patterns of Plastic Waste in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin and Strategies for Pollution Reduction and Carbon Emission Reduction" in Bangkok, Thailand. They also joined a five-day research activity.
On December 13th, the project launch meeting was successfully held in Bangkok, gathering experts and scholars from China and other countries to discuss the migration patterns of plastic waste in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin, pollution control, and effective ways to reduce pollution and carbon emissions. It also further discussed future research directions and cooperation models. As part of the project team, UNEP-IEMP also further investigated the situation in the Thai society and enterprises through field research on plastic waste management. From December 14th to 16th, the team visited demonstration bases for plastic waste management in Thailand to gain a detailed understanding of the collection, processing, and recycling processes of plastic waste. In addition, the team engaged in in-depth discussions with the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on international cooperation and policy support for plastic waste management.
This research activity not only deepened the UNEP-IEMP members' understanding of the plastic waste issues in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin but also laid a solid foundation for the smooth progress of the project and international cooperation. UNEP-IEMP would actively draw on Thailand's advanced experience in plastic waste management, combine it with the situation in China, and promote substantial progress in plastic waste management in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin. As the project further progresses, UNEP-IEMP will continue to strengthen cooperation with the countries in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin to jointly address the environmental challenges posed by plastic waste and contribute to regional green development.
Team visited the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
In addition, UNEP-IEMP also met with research team of the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency of Thailand. Both parties discussed and exchanged views on the development and sustainability assessment of the bamboo industry in Thailand and China, the potential opportunities of using bamboo as a substitute for plastic and future cooperation.
24 December 2024|News
From December 14 to 18, the 7th International EcoSummit 2024 was successfully held at the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center. This summit, themed " Eco-Civilization for a Sustainable and Desirable Future" brought together over 1,000 experts and scholars from 46 countries and regions around the world, with more than 100 plenary sessions and parallel forums. Attendees collectively explored key issues such as biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, basin ecological security, ecosystem services, and progressive ecological restorationetc. Numerous practical cases like basin ecological protection and high-quality development, recovery of river and lake ecological environments, sustainable agricultural cultivation, protection and utilization of forest ecosystems, and the integrated governance of mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and desertswere discussed. As a co-organizer of the summit, UNEP-IEMP hosted thePlenary Panel on"Ecosystem-based approaches to address the triple planetary crisis" on December 18.
ThePlenary Panelspecifically discussed the complex relationships between social and ecologicalsystems andexplored how to increase the application of ecosystem-based approaches (EBA) in addressing thetriple planetary crisisand achieving the 2030 Agenda. It paid special attention to the nexus of climate change, ecosystem services, and sustainable livelihoods, as well as research, practices, and policies at local, national, regional, and international levels. Academician YongguanZhu, Director of the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof.FengZhou, Dean of the School of Geography and Remote Sensing at Hohai University, Arief Rabik, Executive Director of the Bamboo Village Trust, and Dr.YangXia, Senior Editor at theSpringerNature, participated as experts in thePlenary Panel.The Plenary Panelwas chaired byProf.LinxiuZhang,Directorof UNEP-IEMP. The experts discussed the role of EBA in addressing thetriple planetary crisisand achieving the 2030 Agenda, as well as the opportunities and challenges that EBA will face in the future. Inthesummary, Director LinxiuZhangemphasized that in EBA practices, it is necessary to strengthen solution-oriented approaches, multi-data integration, multi-regional practices, multi-stakeholder involvement, and scienceforpolicy in order to better leverage the role of EBA in addressing thetriple planetary crisisand achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Group photo of the Plenary Panelists
24 December 2024|News
On December 17, 2024, North China University of Water Resources and Hydropower (NCWU) organized a seminar on the progress of the National Natural Science Foundation International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange Project (NSFC-UNEP) "Impacts of climate change on the water-food-energy nexus in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin" at the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center. Prof. Zhang Linxiu, Director of UNEP-IEMP, attended the meeting as the International Co-Principal Investigator of the project. The meeting was chaired by Professor Liu Junguo, President of NCWU and the Principal Investigator of the project. Academician Li Bailian (Chairman of the World Ecological Summit Council EcoSummit), Academician Zhang Zhibin (School of Ecology and Environment of Hainan University), Dr. Xia Yan (senior academic editor of Nature), Professor Wu Wenliang (China Agricultural University), and Researcher Wang Yanhui (Chinese Academy of Forestry) attended the meeting as invited experts. Over 40 people, including the core project team members from various project components, attended the meeting.
Professor Liu Junguo introduced the project overview, followed by reports from the four project component leaders. Then, Director Zhang Linxiu introduced the work carried out by UNEP-IEMP in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin. The invited experts gave positive comments on the project in terms of project design, technical implementation, division of labor and organizational management. Moreover, the expert group made constructive suggestions, including considering the links between various topics - in particular the challenges of extreme ecology and environment, to serve the overall goal of the project.
Director Zhang Linxiu introduced the relevant work of UNEP-IEMP in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin and made suggestions for the project
After the in-depth discussion of the expert group, Director Zhang Linxiu emphasized the need to strengthen project outreach, highlighting the advantages of bilateral projects in forming international influence, and to provide scientific evidence to support policy decision-making, and wished the success of the project. Professor Liu Junguo, on behalf of the project team, highly valued the opinions of the expert group, and would take them to improve the implementation plan, and ensure the efficiency and quality of project execution.
