News

ADB and the National Development and Reform Commission Convene the 9th International Conference on Eco-Compensation and Payments for Ecosystem Services

4 Dec 2023
The Opening Plenary, featuring from left to right: Jianjun Zhai, Deputy Director General, Gansu Provincial Development and Reform Commission, James George, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP China, Jusheng Ding, Director General, Gansu Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Nan Zhibiao, Professor, Lanzhou University, and Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Xiaobo Cheng, Vice Governor, Gansu Provincial Government, Zhangshun Tong, Director General, Regional Revitalization Department, National Development and Reform Commission, Zhengbin Xu, Director General, China Reform Daily, Thomas Panella, Director, Agriculture, Food, Nature and Rural Development Sector Group, ADB, Xiaoheng Lu, General Secretary, Zhangye Municipal Committee of Communist Party of China. Source: ADB

ZHANGYE, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (27 November 2023) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Gansu Provincial Development and Reform Commission hosted the 9th International Conference on Eco-Compensation and Payments for Ecosystem Services from November 22-24, 2023.

After a three-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s conference marked a regional flagship event led by the ADB’s East Asia Regional Department and the Agriculture, Food, Nature and Rural Development Sector Group (AFNR) to promote collaboration among public, private, and civil sectors for financial incentives and instruments for environmental protection and enhancement.

Over 200 participants from government agencies, national and international research institutes and academia presented case studies, discussed innovative financing methods, challenges and opportunities, and strengthened their networks among eco-compensation and development professionals.

Conference participants visited a local wetland, providing valuable habitat for local flora and fauna as well as recreational services to the population of Zhangye. Source: ADB

After field visits to successfully completed ADB projects in the vicinity of Zhangye on Day 1, Day 2 and 3 featured over 25 presentations and several panels that discussed the latest advances in the sector.

“Conferences like this one are very important to collect and share knowledge that will improve the design and implementation of eco-compensation and payment for ecosystem services worldwide. ADB looks forward to continue to strengthen our important knowledge partnership with NDRC on key areas such as eco-compensation and PES which have opportunities for application and up scaling in other select ADB member countries.” said ADB’s, Tom Panella, Director for Natural Capital and Climate AFNR.

Notable speakers included Jin Leshan, Executive Director, China Eco-compensation Policy Research Center, and Prof. China Agricultural University, Sven Wunder, Principal Economist, European Forest Institute, Spain, Timothy Male, Executive Director, Environmental Policy Innovation Center, USA, and James Salzman, Law Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara

ADB’s Thomas Panella in discussion with Nan Zhibiao, Professor, Lanzhou University, and Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering. Source: ADB

Since 2009, ADB has supported the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in developing approaches to valuing nature and promoted innovative financing mechanisms to safeguard it. This has predominantly been facilitated through policy dialogue and technical cooperation with NDRC on a range of projects and policy reform initiatives, including eco-compensation policy, legislation, market-based instruments, performance evaluation, and links with wider poverty reduction initiatives.

Other organizing partners supporting this event included ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), China Eco-compensation Policy Research Center, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Asian Development Bank Institute, and the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

© 2024 Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative. The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data in any documents and materials posted on this website and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in any documents posted on this website, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.