Kathmandu— With just 100 days remaining until the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen is emphasizing its dedication to ecological preservation alongside economic growth. Decades ago, a deliberate decision to reroute a coastal road by 260 meters to protect mangrove forests signaled this commitment, and today, the city is sharing its experiences in sustainable development with other APEC economies through initiatives like joint research and site visits. The recent APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry held in Shenzhen focused on topics ranging from forest management to blue carbon conservation, culminating in a joint statement for deeper regional cooperation. This focus on ecological practices is being showcased throughout the city with themed installations and decorations marking the countdown to the November summit.

Mangrove Preservation as a Model

Shenzhen’s approach to balancing development and ecology began decades ago with the decision to protect Futian's mangrove forests. Bao Daming, Secretary-General of the International Mangrove Center (IMC) Secretariat located in Shenzhen, explained that shifting the planned coastal road was an early demonstration of the city’s priorities. This commitment extends beyond preservation; Shenzhen is actively involved in cross-border mangrove restoration and developing blue carbon standards through collaboration with the IMC. Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, noted that Shenzhen's combination of urban development and mangrove conservation could serve as a model for other cities in the Asia-Pacific region. “It’s interesting to see how Shenzhen has really developed over the last 20 years,” he said. “What we've seen is a lot of towers, skyscrapers, urban development, but it's also a lot of greenery … of course you have the protected mangrove area as well.”

Technological Innovation for Ecological Restoration

Beyond preserving existing ecosystems, Shenzhen is leveraging technology to restore damaged ones. Camila Isabel Zepeda Lizama, head of the International Affairs Unit at Mexico's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, expressed particular interest in China’s use of information technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence to identify suitable restoration sites. “We’re very interested in cooperating with China, particularly on mangrove restoration,” she said. The city has also implemented an AI-enabled smart protection system at the Futian mangrove nature reserve to safeguard migratory birds—a key stopover along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway—and is using technological innovation to improve water quality in its 310 monitored rivers, with over 90 percent now rated as good or excellent.

A Citywide Ecological Network

Shenzhen has established a comprehensive ecological network connecting mountain forests, rivers, and coastal wetlands. More than 20 ecological corridors, such as the Kunpeng Trail, have been created to reconnect fragmented urban habitats, leading to the return of species like leopard cats and Eurasian otters. The city now boasts over 6,870 recorded species, including 208 nationally protected plants and animals. These efforts are detailed in a recently released white paper, “A City of Symbiosis: The Shenzhen Practice of Harmonious Coexistence between Humanity and Nature,” which outlines four pathways for urban ecological governance and presents 19 representative cases. Bao Daming stated that the IMC plans to share Shenzhen’s experiences with its members worldwide.

Shenzhen continues to prepare for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November, showcasing its commitment to sustainable development and offering a potential blueprint for balancing economic growth with ecological preservation across the Asia-Pacific region.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.