A delegate from Hangzhou's Shangcheng district delivers a speech at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfbwx]

Shangcheng and Lin'an, two districts of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, showcased their biodiversity conservation initiatives at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), which is being held in Yerevan, Armenia, from Oct 19 to 30. They presented their experiences at a themed event on biodiversity conservation and the development of a Beautiful China, held at the China Pavilion.

Shangcheng, an urban district in central Hangzhou, has recorded more than 1,480 species through comprehensive biodiversity surveys, including 16 species of nationally protected wild plants and animals. Since 2024, it has piloted biodiversity-friendly urban district initiatives that combine ecological monitoring, wildlife rescue, public education, and community participation. Public engagement activities have recorded more than 1.5 million visits, while over 14,000 green volunteers have helped involve more than 200,000 residents.

Lin'an has also documented more than 10,000 species of wild plants and animals. Its conservation work spans protected areas on Tianmu and Qingliang mountains, the preservation of ancient trees, and public nature education. A volunteer program launched in July trains the public to measure and record the growth of ancient trees, complementing professional conservation efforts.

Together, the two districts have shown how to integrate biodiversity protection into urban life through scientific monitoring, cultural initiatives, and public participation, linking ecological conservation with sustainable local development.