The 1st Meeting of the Council of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) was convened in Shenzhen, China, from 26 to 27 July 2026. Representatives were joined by 39 senior officials from 20 signatory States, including delegates from eight Member States and four observer organizations such as the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
At the inauguration ceremony, Chinese representatives stated that the IMC has been entrusted with an important mission to promote more coordinated global action on mangrove conservation and restoration. They stressed that China will continue to support the IMC’s development, collaborate with partners to strengthen global governance for mangroves, deepen international cooperation and enhance knowledge sharing, technology transfer and capacity building. These efforts enable the IMC’s mission to reach a wider audience and gain broader support in the international community.
The Ramsar Secretariat noted that the IMC is the only global cooperation platform established under the Convention’s Regional Initiatives, bringing together countries where mangroves are distributed worldwide. It noted that the IMC provides a global forum through which to promote international cooperation, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and translate shared commitments into concrete action. The Secretariat stated that it looks forward to strengthening its collaboration with the IMC in order to promote science-based mangrove management, accelerate the conservation and restoration of mangroves worldwide, and continue supporting the IMC and its Member States in delivering on their common objectives.
The Council appointed Professor Daming Bao as the first Director General of the IMC. In Director General’s Report, Prof. Bao provided a systematic overview of the main work carried out by the Interim Secretariat, including the membership, institutional development, implementation of the IMC and Council meeting preparation. He affirmed that the IMC will faithfully execute the responsibilities conferred by the Establishment Agreement, align the operations on its mission and four core objectives, and work closely with Member States, signatory States, observers and other partners to advance global cooperation and joint initiatives on the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of mangrove wetlands.
IMC Council Members
The Council considered and adopted a series of documents including the Rules of Procedure of the Council(ROP), the Strategic Plan, the Operational Guidelines for the Scientific and Technical Group(STG), and the Financial and Human Resources regulations, and decided that China will host the second meeting of the Council. During the meeting, the IMC Secretariat was officially inaugurated. Located in Futian District, Shenzhen, and adjacent to the Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve, the IMC building is equipped with exhibition facilities and multifunctional conference rooms to support international exchanges and capacity-building activities.