On March 4, the signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation agreement between the International Mangrove Center (IMC) and Shenzhen University was held at the university. Bao Daming, Director General of the IMC Interim Secretariat, and Mao Junfa, President of Shenzhen University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, represented their respective institutions in signing the agreement. The ceremony was attended by all staff of the IMC Secretariat, as well as representatives from Shenzhen University’s Development Planning Department, Science and Technology Development Research Institute, Advanced Research Institute, and School of Life Sciences and Oceanography.
President Mao Junfa (left) and Director General Bao Daming (right) at the strategic cooperation agreement signing ceremony
President Mao Junfa stated that this collaboration is a practical step in response to China’s national "Dual Carbon" goals and a commitment to global ecological governance. It also marks a significant milestone in the synergistic innovation and shared future vision between an academic institution and a specialized organization. In recent years, Shenzhen University has made sustained efforts in mangrove ecosystem conservation, wetland ecological restoration, and biodiversity research, achieving a series of important outcomes. Moving forward, the university will focus on three key areas: scientific research and technological innovation, cultivating international talent, and enhancing international exchanges and cooperation. By leveraging its strengths in research and talent development, Shenzhen University aims to drive breakthroughs in critical fields such as mangrove conservation, ecological restoration, and carbon sink mechanism studies. Through the platform provided by the IMC, it will further deepen international collaboration to offer "Chinese Wisdom" and "Shenzhen Solutions" for global environmental governance.
Director General Bao Daming emphasized that mangroves are a vital component of global ecosystems, playing a significant role in climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable development of coastal regions. However, global mangrove conservation efforts still face numerous challenges, requiring collaborative efforts from all parties. As the world’s first intergovernmental international organization dedicated to mangrove wetlands, the IMC hopes that this cooperation will leverage Shenzhen University’s research and talent advantages to advance mangrove education and research, promote technological innovation and practical application, strengthen knowledge sharing and capacity building, and establish an internationally influential education and research platform. This initiative will provide robust support for the implementation of international environmental treaties such as the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The signing of this strategic cooperation agreement marks a new chapter in the collaboration between the two parties in areas such as mangrove ecological conservation, scientific research innovation, and the cultivation of international talent. Both sides will use this agreement as an opportunity to deepen academic exchanges and research cooperation, actively embarking on a new phase of international engagement and collaboration.