On 3 December, the concluding meeting for the FAO-GEF project entitled Piloting Provincial-level Wetland Protected Area (PA) System in Jiangxi Province (hereinafter referred to as the “FAO-GEF Jiangxi Project” or “Project”) was held in Nanchang, Jiangxi. The Project received a “Highly Satisfactory” rating in its final third-party evaluation. This marks the first Global Environment Facility (GEF) project managed and implemented by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in China to achieve this rating, establishing it as a model among the GEF projects implemented by FAO.

Jiangxi is rich in wetland resources, with a total wetland area of 1.2756 million hectares. It is home to the Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, which serves as a “winter paradise” for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds. In 2017, with the financial support from GEF, FAO collaborated with the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Finance and the Jiangxi Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve Administration to launch the FAO-GEF Jiangxi Project. The Project aims to promote the management effectiveness of the wetland protected area system in Jiangxi, thereby conserving its globally significant biodiversity.

At the concluding meeting for the Project, Vinod Ahuja, FAO Representative ad interim in China stated that, “The implementation of the FAO-GEF Jiangxi Project has enhanced the management efficiency of the wetland protected area system in Jiangxi Province, which not only benefits the long-term conservation of Jiangxi’s wetlands, but also makes a significant contribution to the global ecosystem.” He emphasized that the “Highly Satisfactory” rating was hard-earned and was made possible by the extensive collaboration of all partners over the years. It serves as an excellent project model and provides valuable implementation experience for other countries.

Li Mulan, Chief Engineer of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Forestry, and Zhou Qingjun, Deputy Director of the Public Service Center of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Finance, attended the event and delivered speeches. During the meeting, Ouyang Feng, an expert from the FAO-GEF Jiangxi Project Management Office, reported on the overall implementation of the Project. Staff and experts from related demonstration protected areas, including Luo Hao, Peng Yu’e, and Wei Baoyu, shared case studies on various initiatives, such as the planting trials of Vallisneria spinulosa Yan, pilot reforms in wetland resource management, and the development of community co-management demonstration sites.

Personnel from other GEF projects managed and implemented by FAO in China were invited to attend the meeting to learn from the practical experience of the FAO-GEF Jiangxi Project and participate in relevant training. During the afternoon session, the expert team from FAO provided professional training to the participants on topics such as project management, financial management, communication strategies, and gender mainstreaming. Liu Yonggong, Chief Technical Advisor of the FAO-GEF Jiangxi Project, organized the training personnel to engage in discussions and experience sharing regarding the successes and challenges of implementing GEF projects.

Main Project Achievements

Since its launch in 2017, the FAO-GEF Jiangxi Project has overcome numerous challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and has exceeded its expected goals and outputs. It has contributed China’s insights to the management of major rivers and lakes, as well as to the conservation and sustainable use of wetland biodiversity. The Project also directly supports China’s commitments to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The main achievements of the project are as follows:

1. Interdepartmental Coordination Mechanism and Policies

• Promoted the establishment and enhancement of interdepartmental coordination mechanisms at the provincial, municipal, and county levels, such as the Jiangxi Provincial Wetland Conservation Comprehensive Coordination Group, led by the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Forestry. This has facilitated the development of comprehensive coordination mechanisms across various cities and counties, forming an integrated interdepartmental coordination system for wetland protection in Jiangxi Province.
• Submitted relevant policy recommendations and proposals, and promoted the mainstreaming of wetland biodiversity conservation into the planning and systems of various related departments. For instance, Jiangxi issued its first Jiangxi Provincial Wetland Protection Strategy and enacted the province’s first ordinance on migratory bird protection, setting a precedent nationwide.

2. Innovative Technologies and Models

The project has explored and promoted a series of innovative technologies and models that effectively advance the conservation and sustainable use of Jiangxi’s wetland biodiversity while improving the living standards of local residents and promoting rural revitalization. For example:

• The “Vallisneria spinulosa Yan planting experiment”, aimed at expanding the food sources for the Siberian Cranes, has achieved groundbreaking progress, marking a milestone of success in expanding the food sources for the cranes through artificial means. This technology has been successfully patented and will be gradually used for vegetation restoration in the lake areas.
• Supported the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Forestry to pilot the Wetland Resource Management Mechanism, which improved the control over the total wetland quantity and explored an innovative approach for sustainable wetland financing. This initiative also promoted the realization of wetland resource value through market mechanisms.
• Demonstrated a participatory community co-management model, guiding villagers to explore sustainable alternative livelihoods, such as eco-tourism and organic blueberry cultivation. Eleven community-sharing activities were organized in nine communities, benefiting a total of 934 people, including 415 women, 159 low-income individuals, and 103 households of former fishermen. Not only did it promote wetland conservation, but also improved livelihoods and advanced rural revitalization.

3. Enhancing Management Facilities and Strengthening Protected Area Management Capacity

• Promoted the establishment of seven protection monitoring stations outside the protected areas and continuously engaged in monitoring, public awareness and other activities. The effective management areas of the Poyang Lake wetland were expanded.
• Developed the Jiangxi Wetland PA Information Management System, significantly enhancing the management level of wetland resource information in Jiangxi Province.
• Conducted 114 training sessions for wetland nature reserve managers and technical personnel, with 5 514 participants, approximately 30% of whom were women. The training covered protected area management, wetland resource monitoring, laws, and regulations, which effectively improved the professional capabilities of the participants.

4. Raising Public Awareness of Wetland Conservation

Through rich and innovative promotional and educational activities, utilizing both traditional and new media platforms, the Project effectively raised public awareness of wetland biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. For example:

• Facilitated the construction of Jiangxi’s first Poyang Lake Wetland and Migratory Bird Education Center themed on the Siberian Crane, which received over 60,000 visitors during the project period.
• Authored the first natural education book for the Poyang Lake region, The Wonderful Life at Poyang Lake, and conducted demonstration courses in 30 schools.
• Co-organized three consecutive “Poyang Lake International Birdwatching Season (Week)” events, which has enhanced the international influence of Poyang Lake’s wetland and migratory bird conservation efforts.

Moreover, the Project has led to significant global environmental benefits. Under its influence, the effectively protected wetland area in the Poyang Lake region increased by approximately 283,000 hectares, exceeding the expected target by about 50%. The management efficiency of the Jiangxi wetland protected areas, as demonstrated by the project, has been effectively enhanced, and the threats to biodiversity have been significantly mitigated. Additionally, the ecosystem health indexes for the three major nature reserves involved in the project surpassed the anticipated targets, indicating positive development of the wetland ecosystems in the region.

In addition to the substantial achievements during its implementation, the FAO-GEF Jiangxi Project places great emphasis on the sustainability of its outcomes. The establishment and promotion of interdepartmental coordination mechanisms, the enactment of wetland protection-related laws and policies, the improvement of protected area infrastructures, and the enhancement of the capabilities of management personnel and public awareness have all laid a solid foundation for the sustainability of key project outcomes post-completion. FAO, in collaboration with the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Finance and the Jiangxi Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve Administration, has developed a detailed sustainability plan to ensure that the crucial achievements of the project continue to be effective after its conclusion.

FAO is one of the largest specialized technical agencies within the UN system. It aims to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems to achieve better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life, leaving no one behind. The conservation and restoration of biodiversity are key elements in building sustainable agri-food systems. With the support of the GEF, FAO is currently collaborating with relevant departments to carry out nine projects in 17 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China. These efforts aim to mainstream biodiversity conservation, address climate change and land degradation, and promote sustainable management of natural resources and sustainable agriculture.