On the morning of 27 August 2026, the opening ceremony of the IMC Workshop on Mangrove Conservation and Restoration Workshop was held in Shenzhen. Twenty-three representatives from signatory States of the International Mangrove Center participated in the workshop. Representatives from the International Mangrove Center, the Urban Planning and the Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality (Shenzhen Municipal Forestry Bureau), the Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory, and the National Academy of Forestry and Grassland Administration, among other institutions, attended the ceremony.
Opening Ceremony of the IMC Workshop
At the opening ceremony, Prof. Daming Bao, the Director General of the IMC stated that this workshop is the first capacity-building activity since the 1st Meeting of Council(MOC1), this workshop serves as an opportunity to carry the momentum forward—from shared commitments to practical action. He emphasized the role of flexibility in knowledge application, proposing that the practical application of knowledge should be tailored to differentiated and circumstantial local conditions. On a final note, he wished the participants to take advantage of this opportunity to build relationships, strengthen professional networks, and create meaningful partnerships.
Mr. Kaiming Xu, Director of the Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory, stated that this workshop has established an important platform for global knowledge exchange and mutual learning on mangrove conservation. He added that the trilateral signing of the strategic cooperation will drive the integration of mangrove protection with digital and spatial intelligence governance. Leveraging its own strengths in Geo-spatial information technology and platforms, the laboratory will tackle key technological challenges and assist with the development and calibration of international standards in areas such as mangrove conservation and restoration, blue carbon accounting, and ecological value assessment, contributing to global wetland ecological governance.
Mr Lama You Camara, the Director General of National Center for the Protection of Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of Guinea, restated the significance of mangroves as a natural resource in Guinea, and the critical pressure it is currently facing--- climate change and coastal errosion. In light of the circumstances, he stressed that Guinea values its partnership and membership with the IMC. He expressed strong will to strengthen capacity building through scientific research, personnel training, technology transfer, and the exchange of best practices, and to actively participate in IMC's various initiatives to jointly advance mangrove conservation, restoration, and sustainable management.
Mr. Xiaoping Wu, First-Level Researcher at the Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, appraised that Shenzhen has always uphold the principle of innovation and recognized mangrove wetlands as the city’s most precious natural asset. He encouraged international participants to use the workshop and the IMC as a bridge to translate discussions into tangible consensus and action, jointly elevating global mangrove conservation to new heights.
Following the opening ceremony, the International Mangrove Center, the Shenzhen Planning and Natural Resources Bureau, and the Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement. The three parties will leverage their respective strengths in international platforms, mangrove conservation practices, and geospatial technology. They will deepen collaboration in digital mangrove monitoring, conservation and restoration, technological innovation, and international cooperation, accelerating the application of technological advancements in mangrove conservation.
The workshop is jointly organized by the International Mangrove Center and the Urban Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality (Shenzhen Municipal Forestry Bureau) , and hosted by the Guangdong Neilingding Futian National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau and the National Academy of Forestry and Grassland Administration.