IUCN and Chery Collaborate on Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Development
Charles Karangwa, the Global Head of Nature-based Solutions Management Hub at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), delivered a compelling speech at the 2024 International Business Conference in Wuhu, China.
He highlighted the organization’s mission to conserve nature for the benefit of humanity and emphasized the importance of partnerships with governmental, multilateral agencies, and the private sector to achieve sustainable development goals.
IUCN, the largest environmental organization in the world with over 1,400 members in 160 countries, has been at the forefront of promoting nature-based solutions to address societal challenges such as food and water security, climate change mitigation, and land and ocean health.
Through collaborations with governments and organizations like Chery, IUCN has implemented over 400 projects globally with a portfolio value of CHF 1 billion.
One of the key achievements of IUCN is the development of the global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, which promotes the contribution of healthy and restored ecosystems to address various challenges. China, a major partner in promoting nature-based solutions, has made significant investments in ecological protection and restoration to ensure ecological functionality.
The collaboration between IUCN and Chery focuses on promoting nature conservation and restoration as solutions to societal challenges.
Mr. Karangwa reveled that “A project to restore Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean has been initiated in Spain, aiming to support the conservation and restoration of species and habitats with nature-based solutions.”
“This project marks the beginning of a broader partnership addressing issues like the restoration of terrestrial forests, grasslands, wetlands, and marine ecosystems both in China and globally.” He added.
He also noted that “The project “Restoration of Posidonia oceanica on the Spanish Mediterranean coast” aims to improve the health of Mediterranean marine and coastal ecosystems by implementing nature-based solutions such as establishing ecological mooring systems to reduce impact factors on seagrass meadows.”
Mr. Karangwa explained that “By conserving and restoring coastal ecosystems, the project contributes to mitigating and adapting to climate change by preserving biodiversity and reducing global CO2 emissions.”
In conclusion, Charles Karangwa expressed gratitude for the attention and engagement of the audience during his presentation.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to drive positive change towards a future where nature-based solutions play a crucial role in achieving sustainable development goals. By working together, IUCN and Chery aim to lead the way towards healthy ecosystems, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity preservation for future generations.
