Experts share experiences in environmental governance
International training programs promote knowledge, technical expertise for better approaches to forestry, conservation and climate change
China's aid training programs on environment and ecology, which invite participants from around the world, are helping build capacity in many countries, according to a Kenyan official who attended a training session in Beijing in June.
Mary Ivy Wanjiku Kimama, a senior research scientist at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, attended a seminar on forest ecological protection and restoration for developing countries from June to July. "I came here because I wanted to see China's forestry practices and bring these ideas back home," she said. "It's impressive to see that it takes only 10 minutes in China to mobilize for forest fire fighting."
Under China's aid training program, officials and technical experts from various countries eager to tackle climate challenges gathered in Beijing to learn from China's experience in ecological and environmental governance.
Rajendra Phuyal, former secretary of Nepal's National Assembly, also took part in the training. He praised the program for combining theoretical, technical and practical knowledge on environmental conservation and sustainable development. "It provides an opportunity to interact with delegates from other countries, which promotes information exchange and sharing of experiences," he said.
Inspired by China's tech-driven approach to forest conservation and management, he said, "The use of satellite monitoring, satellite tracking and coordinated forest management systems could greatly enhance our capacity to respond to disasters and protect our forests."
From June to July, several training programs were held at the National Academy of Forestry and Grassland Administration in Beijing. The sessions brought together officials, foresters and scholars from countries including Egypt, Fiji, Romania, Malaysia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Nepal, Kenya, Thailand and the Solomon Islands.
These programs focused on topics such as forest resource utilization under climate change, forest protection and restoration, biodiversity conservation and the development of the bamboo industry and green economy, with some seminars specifically designed for developing countries.
