According to the official website of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), the 10th World Conference on Ecological Restoration will be held from September 26 to 30, 2023 in Darwin, Australia. Under the theme of People and Nature as One: Celebrating and Restoring Connections, the conference aims to reflect on the relationship between ourselves and nature and the connection between the natural environment and indigenous and traditional communities around the world. This year’s conference, the first live gathering since 2019, is said to have attracted upwards of 1,000 experts and scholars from more than 80 countries around the world.
Several experts and industry leaders from China were invited to participate in the conference and share China’s practices and achievements in ecological restoration in recent years. At the conference, Chinese participants shared five case stories of ecological restoration across China, showing the world that ecological restoration creates habitats for endangered species and explores natural solutions with community involvement.
Ms. Zhang Jiayu, a founding investor and director of NOAH Wealth, was invited to share the successful experience of the NOAH Ark project, a joint project between NOAH Wealth and the Southwest Project Center of the Alxa SEE Ecological Society, in restoring the green peacock’s habitat. Ms. Zhang Jiayu said that as the first independent wealth management institution in China to be listed on both Hong Kong and US stock exchanges, NOAH Wealth is leading the way in responsible and sustainable development at a critical time for global biodiversity.
The NOAH Ark green peacock conservation project is located in the Yaocun village area of southern Yunnan Province, with policy guidance provided by local government departments, scientific knowledge and technology provided by professional researchers, the participation of local community residents, funding provided by NOAH Public Welfare Foundation, and overall coordination and management provided by the Alxa SEE Southwest Center. The protected area covers 6.62 square kilometers, about 11.76% of the land in Waist Village, which ultimately increases the number of green peacocks and the size of the population effectively.
Ms. Joyce Zhang also mentioned that the NOAH Ark Green Peacock Conservation Project is based on a scientific solution that provides an innovative way to restore food and water to the habitat of the IUCN Grade 1 protected species, the Green Peacock, during three consecutive years of drought. The scientific monitoring and conservation of the green peacock has succeeded in sustaining healthy population growth over the five years of the project’s operation. To date, the number of human disturbances in the habitat per month has gone from 62 to zero, five exclusive protection areas for green peafowl have been successfully cultivated, the area of habitat has been restored nearly three times, and the number of green peafowl in the protected areas has increased nearly three times. Importantly, the project has successfully developed a collaborative, effective, scalable and sustainable model with various stakeholders, including local government, community residents, social organizations and professional researchers.
Ms. Zhang Jiayu said that in the future, the project will continue to expand the green peacock conservation network, closely monitor the green peacock population, and establish new habitats for the green peacock population under the supervision and support of the government and local residents, and only in this way can the green peacock be saved and protected as an endangered population species.
Han Lianxian, a Chinese bird expert and president of the Yunnan Wildlife Conservation Association, said that the project team’s in-depth interviews with local residents and infrared camera setups allowed the researchers to understand how climate change is affecting the green peafowl’s habits. The data is not only crucial for the protection of the existing population but also for the planning of the project’s future work.
Ms. Xiao Jin, Secretary General of the Alxa SEE Southwest Center, who co-participated in the conference, was responsible for the planning and management of the project and played an important role in integrating resources and collaborating during the implementation of the project. She also said that the success of the project was mainly due to the local wisdom and experience of the local residents of Waichun, the effective combination of professional research, and the in-depth participation and linkage of all parties involved.
The project was highly recognized by the participants when it was shared in the forum. Nevertheless, Mr. Siu said that the success of the Green Peacock Conservation Project only made it clear that the 5-year model is effective, scalable and sustainable. As the number of green peacocks increases, they will face problems such as dispersal, hunting and food shortages in the future. The project team will need to continue its conservation efforts, including corridor restoration, collaboration with local residents, and construction of new habitats, which will continue to require resources and financial support from companies and individuals, including NOAH Holdings.
As a wealth management enterprise that pays constant attention to environmental protection and social welfare, NOAH Wealth has been walking on the path of practicing environmental protection, adhering to the goal of sustainable development, sharing the fate of nature, and walking hand in hand with ecology. Since 2014, NOAH Wealth has participated in the National Bird Crashing Action Network Construction Project, Alxa SEE’s 100 Million haloxylon ammondendrons, Sanjiangyuan Biodiversity Nature Observation Manual NOAH Ark, Green Peacock Biodiversity Protection, Save the Smile of the Yangtze River – Save the Porpoise, National 66 Fish Release Day and other programs.
“All things are born in harmony, and all things are nourished in order to grow.” NOAH Wealth will always practice sustainable development, protect biodiversity, realize harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and dedicate its corporate power to realize the vision of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2050.
