On October 23, 2026, Peter Thomson, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, visited the Secretariat of the International Mangrove Center (IMC), where he toured the Secretariat and exchanged views with IMC representatives on the IMC’s development and international cooperation efforts.
During the visit, Prof. Bao Daming, Director General of the IMC, introduced the background of the IMC’s establishment, its mission and objectives, and shared progress in international exchange, capacity building and knowledge sharing, as well as research outputs on mangrove monitoring and assessment. Prof. Bao also noted that the IMC’s mangrove conservation efforts contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), Goal 13 (Climate Action), Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and Goal 15 (Life on Land).
Peter Thomson, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean and Bao Daming, Director General of the IMC
Mr. Thomson commended the progress made in establishing and developing the IMC. He recalled his early experiences living in a mangrove-rich area and highlighted the important role of mangrove ecosystems in conserving biodiversity, protecting coastal environments and supporting local livelihoods. He noted that the IMC serves as an important platform for advancing global cooperation on mangrove conservation and contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. He also expressed his intention to promote the IMC internationally and encourage more countries to join and participate in its work, further strengthening global cooperation on mangrove conservation.
The two sides also exchanged views on mangrove ecosystem conservation, sustainable ocean development and the expansion of the IMC’s international cooperation network. They expressed their shared interest in maintaining close contact, exploring opportunities for practical cooperation and advancing global mangrove conservation efforts.