From December 28 to 29, 2021，the ICCA workshop in China’s Key Ecosystem Region, co-hosted by ICCA China Working Group, GEF-SGP, Zhilan Foundation and Shan Shui Conservation Center, was successfully held in Chengdu.  CEPF, IUCN, CI, Amity Foundation, Kiehl’s, GAC Toyota, Huatai United Securities also supported the conference. Practitioners and representatives from Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Qinghai, Gansu, Beijing and ICCAs participated in this workshop.

On December 28, Ms. Shen Xingna, deputy director of the community development department of Giant Pandas National Park Administration of Sichuan Province gave a welcome speech. Prof. Lu Zhi of Peking university and Mr. Li sheng-zhi from Sichuan Provincial Academy of Social Sciences introduced the global background and current situation of the development of ICCAs in China. Community representatives from the Qunan ICCA and Guanba ICCA shared their experiences and lessons-learnt, Qianfoshan Ecological Forest Rangers Association, PNC and TNC shared their work and reflections on ICCAs.

In the afternoon, Ms. Liu Yi from GEF-SGP introduced the resilience and security assessment tool for ICCAs, and Mr. Su Zhenhao from Shan Shui also shared his findings of using this tool.  In addition, Ms. Zhang Yingyi from Zhilan Foundation introduced the guideline on strengthen the territory of life, and lijiang Health and Environment Research Center also shared the sustainable development and peer review of the three ICCAs in Lijing, Yunnan. Finally, five communities used the guideline and assessment tool and shared their thoughts and feedbacks.

On the morning of December 29th, the representatives of ICCAs and communities went to the Chengdu Botanical Garden together and experienced an interesting nature education activity under the guidance of the nature education tutor. During the process, the representatives from the communities and the nature reserves exchanged their experience in the nature education of the community reserve.

The workshop enhanced the exchange, communications and cooperation among ICCAs in China. We hope that the workshop will help ICCAs in China to find and address their challenges, threats and opportunity and play an important role in biodiversity conservation in China.