By Bernice Keshet with Jessica of CMCN | Project Assistant
China is now home to dozens of Green Map projects, promoting sustainable lifestyles in many rural and urban communities. We at Green Map System especially appreciate the one initiated by the China Mangrove Conservation Network. Thanks to our Global Giving donors, we can continually support this effort.
Mangroves play a significant role in coastal ecosystems by stabilizing the shoreline, providing protecting to both wildlife and people against waves and hurricanes. In many places in the world, including China, these important trees are being cut down at an alarming rate for firewood and coastal development.
A CMCN staff member, Jessica, described the organization’s work:
Actively promoting the conservation of mangrove forests since 2001, in 2009 CMCN officially registered as a non-governmental organization named the Putian Green Sprout Coastal Wetlands Research Center.
Through the construction of a platform for capacity building, resource sharing and demonstration, our endeavor is to promote governments, corporations and other civic powers to spontaneously, innovatively and effectively take part in the coastal wetland conservation. We expect to see an exuberant coastal wetland ecosystem including the mangroves, in which human and nature could develop together in harmony.
In 2006, CMCN was authorized by Green Map System to develop a Green Map project in the southeast coast of China, home to many mangrove forests. CMCN Green Map project's slogan is "Making a Green Map, protecting the mangroves".
In our opinion, this highly participatory, practical and thought-provoking activity can promote public participation, education for sustainable development (ESD), ecological tourism, community development, reserve planning, volunteer activities, and many other areas and harness participation in all these fields to promote mangrove conservation.
CMCN has published more than 10 Green Maps and several guide books. We have had the opportunity to teach and host many workshops and lectures, involving students and spreading the word about mangrove conservation throughout communities.
CMNC has developed icons (or re-defined global Green Map symbols) that represent the specific environment of the mangrove forests in the region.
Explore the maps and more at the websites linked below. Our thanks to everyone at CMCN, including Jessica, Liu Yi, and Yiran Sun.
Links:
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