From June 13th to 14th, 2023, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China (NFGA) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) jointly organized a significant dialogue in Wuyishan, China, aimed at exploring and improving the governance models of national parks. This two-day conference, supported by the European Union (EU) through the China Biodiversity Facility (CBF), served as a platform for knowledge exchange and in-depth discussions between Chinese and French experts.

The shared commitment of the EU and China to the scientific protection of biodiversity and the sustainable utilization of natural resources has spurred the implementation of proactive policies to safeguard ecosystems and reduce the ecological impact of its economy. In 2013, China proposed the establishment of a national park system, followed by the launch of ten pilot national parks in 2015. In October 2021, China officially declared the establishment of its first five national parks, and in 2022, the State Council announced a spatial layout plan encompassing existing national parks and potential future candidates.

The dialogue featured opening remarks by several distinguished VIPs including Wang Jinfu, Vice Governor of Fujian Province, Christophe Aubel (via video), Delegated Director General, Office Française pour la Biodiversité, Jorge Toledo, EU Ambassador to China, Bertrand Lortholary, French Ambassador to China and Tan Guangming, Vice Administrator, National Forestry and Grassland Administration underscoring the significance of the event. Their valuable insights and perspectives contributed to the fruitful discussions on the system of national parks.

Recognizing the European protection model, with particular emphasis on the French approach to protected areas, China aims to integrate elements of shared governance, territorial planning tools, economic development strategies, and contractualization dimensions into its ongoing reform process. France, being a global leader in the number of sites included in the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, shares a leadership role with China in Asia in terms of the sites listed. This common leadership position provides a solid foundation for fostering fruitful cooperation between the two nations in the realm of national parks.

The partnership between NFGA and AFD has played a pivotal role in promoting collaboration and research on the French national park model. Under this partnership, a research program was initiated in November 2021, led by the Institute of Science and Development at the Chinese Academy of Science. The program aimed to explore various aspects of the French national park model that could contribute to inspire China's ongoing reform of its national protected area system. Thus, this dialogue also serves as a platform for launching and presenting the first outcome of this research program—a book titled "Multifaced Governance – A study of the French National Park System." This publication represents a priority public policy dialogue within the partnership, focusing on the management of protected areas and national parks.

The event brought together key stakeholders responsible for driving the reform, including administrations, research centers, think tanks, as well as various Chinese protected area management offices, commissions, and bureaus. The dialogue aimed to facilitate in-depth discussions on the French protected areas model, its evolution, and its main characteristics, with a specific focus on national parks. Chinese participants actively engaged in profound exchanges with French experts and conservancy managers of French national parks, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the French model and promoting knowledge sharing.

National parks play a pivotal role in safeguarding biodiversity, protecting fragile ecosystems, and promoting sustainable tourism. This dialogue signifies a significant step towards international cooperation and knowledge exchange and brings together the diverse expertise, resources, and cultural perspectives of China, France, and the EU. By leveraging insights from the French model and sharing experiences, both nations aspire to enhance their respective approaches to national park management, ultimately contributing to the preservation and sustainable development of biodiversity and natural resources.

Editor Notes | About the Public Policy Dialogue of the China Biodiversity Facility

Public policy dialogue is a key component of the China Biodiversity Facility (CBF), a European Union grant managed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in close coordination with the relevant Chinese government departments. The aim of the CBF is to contribute to the public policy dialogue between the EU, France and China on six priority topics related to biodiversity and natural capital issues by mobilizing high level expertise from both China and Europe to exchange views and share experiences on environmental priority topics. The CBF also aims at improving the impacts of innovative and replicable projects in China, targeting the protection of biodiversity and the fight against climate change, to be funded with AFD loans.