A year after its establishment, the International Mangrove Center in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, has emerged as a hub for global mangrove conservation cooperation by uniting 20 member countries to protect one of the world's most productive and fragile ecosystems.

Growing along tropical and subtropical coastlines, mangroves act as natural barriers against storms, filter seawater, store carbon, and sustain biodiversity. China is among the few countries to record a net increase in mangrove coverage, supported by far-reaching restoration projects and stronger wetland protection laws.

Backed by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the Guangdong provincial government, and the city of Shenzhen, the center was first proposed by China at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 2022. It launched in 2024 with representatives from 18 founding members, and, in August this year, Zimbabwe and Sudan joined as the 19th and 20th members. The center also works closely with the UN Development Program and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Bao Daming, director general of the IMC Interim Secretariat, said Shenzhen is providing "all-round support in personnel, facilities, and funding, laying a solid foundation for the center's long-term growth." He added that the upcoming Mangrove Wetland Museum, expected to open in 2028, will serve as a global hub for education, research, and international cooperation.

This year, the center launched its first international training programs on mangrove protection and blue-carbon management, bringing together officials and experts from China, Cambodia, and Madagascar. Participants visited conservation sites in Shenzhen and Guangxi to study China's restoration practices.

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Cambodian Ministry of Environment official Mon Samut said the center is an important platform that promotes cooperation and knowledge sharing. China's experience will help many countries restore and sustainably manage their mangrove ecosystems.