On the afternoon of July 17th, 2023, as a member of the Alien Invasive Species Working Group of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), I and my colleagues were engaged in researching the first public notice of the "Overall Plan for Haikou Port (Revision)" Environmental Impact Assessment. We took our responsibility to contribute to the local scientific service and serve the public environmental interests seriously, so we meticulously studied the relevant documents. However, during this process, we encountered certain issues, such as being unable to download the attachments and a lack of feedback channels. Despite multiple attempts to make phone calls, no one answered, leaving us unable to communicate with the department responsible for the public notice. Consequently, we resorted to seeking assistance by posting an article on the CBCGDF Media platform. (See: "Three Unreachable Phone Numbers at Hainan Provincial Department of Transportation | First Public Notice of the 'Overall Plan for Haikou Port (Revision)' Environmental Impact Assessment: No Response" at https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1771649134120747156)

Fortunately, on July 19th, 2023, relevant officials from the Hainan Provincial Department of Transportation Office noticed our online post and promptly approved the work. In the afternoon, they called us to express sincere apologies and provide a detailed explanation for the situation. They conducted a thorough investigation into the entire work process and sincerely apologized for the lack of response to our phone calls. They expressed gratitude to the CBCGDF staff for bringing these oversights to their attention.

As we learned, due to the impact of Typhoon "Talim," Hainan activated the "Six Cessations" measures for typhoon prevention and relief across the city, which resulted in comprehensive efforts for disaster prevention on July 17th. Consequently, phone lines were left unattended. The officials acknowledged the need to set up phone forwarding in advance to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. Furthermore, the staff involved held a comprehensive rectification meeting shortly after they read the CBCGDF post and to ensure that such incidents do not recur again. They have also improved the ways and channels for receiving public feedback, including establishing an official email address and fax number for public notice submissions and setting up phone forwarding to enhance communication with the public.

Additionally, during the phone exchange, the officials recognized the invaluable suggestion put forth by the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation Alien Invasive Species Working Group concerning ballast water management on ships. They have decided to explicitly incorporate this proposal into the new version of the "Overall Plan for Haikou Port," demonstrating their attentiveness and recognition of professional advice.

The officials expressed their utmost respect and heartfelt appreciation to the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation Alien Invasive Species Working Group. They emphasized the significance of building an ecological civilization demonstration area, and Hainan Provincial Department of Transportation attaches great importance to this aspect. They regretted any oversight in ensuring comprehensive public participation in the environmental impact assessment public notice. They warmly welcomed more valuable suggestions. The officials extended their welcome to the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation's continued attention and participation in Haikou Port's construction work, in order to better serve the public and society.

We admire the proactive and responsible work attitude of Hainan Provincial Department of Transportation on this matter. The dedication and responsiveness of the relevant staff, along with their open and accommodating attitude in accepting suggestions, underscore their high regard for environmental protection and professionalism. Such dedication, responsibility, and willingness to improve are truly commendable and deserving of our heartfelt applause! We hope to maintain excellent communication and cooperation in the future, working together to promote green development, protect the environment, and contribute to the sustainable development of Haikou Port and Hainan Province.

Reporter: Wendy

Editor: Maggie    

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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