XIEG Promotes Cross-border Ecological Protection and Cooperation in the Altai Mountains

The Altai Mountains where China borders Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, are located in the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion, one of the Global 200 Ecoregions for biodiversity conservation. The natural geographical features, natural landscapes and ecosystems in the Altai Mountains form a complete mountain ecosystem. Cross-border ecological protection in the Altai Mountains will have a great significance for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem management, and coping with global climate change.

To promote the cross-border ecological protection and cooperation, on August 1, 2024, the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences co-hosted the "International Symposium on World Heritage and National Parks" in Beijing, with more than 80 international experts and managers of natural protection areas attending the meeting. During the symposium, experts and managers exchanged research findings on the ecological protection of the Altai Mountains and shared practical experiences in natural protection. Participants reached a consensus on establishing the Altai Mountains Cross-border Protection Alliance, and representatives from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia signed and released the "Beijing Consensus on Establishing the Altai Mountains Cross-border Protection Alliance " (hereinafter referred to as Beijing Consensus).

Representatives from China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia Sign the Beijing Consensus on Establishing the Altai Mountains Cross-border Protection Alliance

The release of the Beijing Consensus signifies a new milestone for cross-border ecological protection and cooperation in the Altai Mountains. Experts and managers have expressed their commitment to actively advance the establishment of the alliance. The alliance will serve as a cooperation platform involving governments, think tanks, social organizations, and the public to focus on cross-border protected area and ecological network construction, ecosystem services and human well-being, global climate change and ecological risk control, and invasive species control.

Contact

LONG Huaping

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

E-mail: longhp@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn