Recently, Yuan, student representative of the College of Design and Innovation at Tongji University, asks for the guidance of the Pangolin Working Group of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) on a public interest innovation program about pangolin conservation.

Yuan says she was deeply attracted by this creature at her first sight of pangolin. After knowing the cruel reality pangolin is facing, her schoolmates unanimously agreed to enhance the promotion of it through H5 or mini-games. Then she read the work of the Pangolin Working Group of CBCGDF and decided to pay a visit, wishing to consult CBCGDF colleagues on solving problems in the project implementation.

Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, Secretary-General of CBCGDF, is delighted to see an increasing number of young people contribute to biodiversity conservation. He gave an introduction to the current situation of biodiversity conservation, and the significance of conducting relevant work.

As for the public interest innovation program on pangolin conservation proposed by Yuan, Dr. Zhou put forward the following suggestions from four perspectives:

1. The newest research by South China Agricultural University shows that coronavirus is highly similar to the virus found on Malayan pangolin.

2. At the CITES CoP17 in 2016, all eight pangolin species were listed in Appendix I, which means the international commercial trade of pangolin and its products is forbidden. However, the illicit trade is still rampant.

3. It is estimated that a single pangolin consumes millions of ants, termites, and larvae each year, playing a crucial role in maintaining a healthy forest environment. As the population of pangolin has rapidly declined, the threat posed by termites is severe in the south.

4. The United Nation Millennium Declaration aims to promote members to achieve eight SDGs from 2010 to 2015. According to a report published in 2015, the 7b “Reduce biodiversity loss” has not been realized yet. Biodiversity loss is a global challenge related to human survival and future generations.

In the end, Dr. Zhou pointed out that college students should not only be creative in program design but also spread their innovative ideas broadly, thus influencing more people to engage in the course of biodiversity conservation and ecological civilization.

Yuan expressed her appreciation for Dr. Zhou’s sharing and acquired a lot through the 2-hour conservation. She admires the unremitting efforts made by CBCGDF.

CBCGDF has always upheld updated working approaches, and unswervingly support the conservation work of volunteers, civil society, and community. We also give equal importance to youth education and mobilize biodiversity conservation and green development among the youth.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/12782.html

By / Wang Yanqing