CBCGDF EPNF Children Representative in the CBD CoP14 speak for the Baiji dolphins | China's future generation to lead the biodiversity conservation can not be underestimated

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CBCGDF EPNF Children Representative in the CBD CoP14 speak for the Baiji dolphins | China's future generation to lead the biodiversity conservation can not be underestimated | Egypt

2018/11/28 15:29:00 本站

Recently, Dr. Harvey Locke, a senior conservation expert and connectivity expert of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, particularly compliments the three children from China on his social media platform. On November 21st, these three lovely and brave children spoke at the side event organized by CBCGDF at the United Nations 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD CoP14) in Egypt. They used fluent English on the international stage and spoke for the Chinese endemic species, the Baiji dolphins, which had won a lot of acclaims, and let the world see the unlimited potential of China's future generation in the cause of biodiversity conservation.

The three children named Bob, Cici and Justin are the children's volunteers of the CBCGDF Enterprise Photographers Nature Fund (CBCGDF EPNF). During the side event, Mr. Zou Qian, the representative of the CBCGDF EPNF, first introduced to the international colleagues the unique Chinese freshwater whales, the Baiji dolphin and its precarious survival status. Fortunately, CBCGDF EPNF has been persistently looking for them, awakening people and related departments to protect the Baiji, and in April 2018 - 11 years after declaring "functional extinction", the "Goddess of the Yangtze River" was photographed. Despite the controversy at the time, CBCGDF EPNF never gave up looking for and protecting them. According to Mr. Zou Qian, on October 12 of the same year, CBCGDF EPNF once again captured a clear image of the Baiji dolphin in the same place in the Yangtze River. Once again, it confirmed the existence of the Baiji dolphin to the relevant Chinese departments and the world, and further promoted the CBCGDF and establish the process for protecting them. Also because of this discovery, the IUCN postponed the time to declare the extinction of this species. This is also why we did not see a change in the ratings of the Baiji dolphins in the recent update of the IUCN Red List.

Subsequently, under the guidance of Mr. Zou Qian, three children entered the stage. Facing the overwhelming international guests and audience, the children did not show any intimidation. First of all, they introduced the identity of their volunteers of the CBCGDF EPNF, and then they used their young but firm and powerful voice to appeal to the world to pay attention to and protect the "Goddess of the Yangtze River".

Justin introduced to the guests that the Baiji dolphins are endemic to China and are mostly distributed in the Yangtze River. They are also one of the top five freshwater whales in the world. However, with the increase of shipping and fishing activities in the Yangtze River Basin, the survival of the Baiji dolphins face extremely severe challenges. Bob said that in the past few years, the number of this species has fallen sharply, and the area of their habitat has also shrunk year by year. The Baiji dolphins only reproduce once in two years, usually only one birth at a time, and the young babies take eight years to grow into a mature stage. Therefore, once the number of white dolphins is reduced, it is difficult to recover in a short period of time. Cici then introduced that research showed that there were about 400 individuals in 1980, and by the end of 2006, scientists could not find the white dolphins in the Yangtze River. In April of this year, CBCGDF EPNF photographed the white porpoise in the wild, which has also been confirmed by authoritative experts from the IUCN. Nowadays, the survey shows that the protection of Baiji dolphins in the Yangtze River has been improved, but its living conditions are still difficult. Finally, the three children put their hands together on the chest and sincerely and firmly appealed, "We urge all sectors of the community to pay attention to environmental protection and give more attention and support to the Baiji Dolphin!"

The speeches of the three children were deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The appeal of sincerity and emotion also infected everyone in the audience and won the applause. Let the world see the infinite possibilities of the future generation in the protection of the environment and biodiversity, and let the world see the Chinese future generation to promote the development of green undertakings, promote the construction of ecological civilization and the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, and the power to build a beautiful home for mankind.

Three children went to Egypt and worked hard for a few days to prepare for the speech at the CBCGDF CBD CoP14 side event. It was very hard, and one of the children was ill. After the end of the CBD CoP14, Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, Secretary General of CBCGDF, especially praised the children's fluent English and admirable bravery, especially the fact that they introduced the Baiji dolphins to the world at the United Nations, and gave voice to them.

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