Hainan’s Changjiang County Celebrates Rainforest Conservation and Gibbon Recovery Efforts

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3: Changjiang Li Autonomous County’s “Rainforest and You” experiential series 2025 in Hainan have highlighted its achievements in tropical rainforest conservation alongside its rich ethnic cultural heritage through a diverse programme.

Its efforts have attracted guests and experts from global organisations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United States National Park Service, and the Hainan Institute of National Park.

They participated in recent in-depth discussions on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

According to a statement, the Chinese edition of the Global Resolution on Strengthening Gibbon Conservation through Collaborative Action had provided valuable insights into global ecological protection and sustainable development efforts.

In addition, three Chinese Olympic champions served as volunteer educators for the National Park, leading more than 1,000 volunteers on a 10-kilometre hike to promote ecological conservation through hands-on action.

Changjiang County also launched a series of premium rainforest tourism routes centred on its four ecological landmarks, namely Mt Bawang, Wangxia Town, Qizi Bay, and Haiwei National Wetland Park. These itineraries integrate natural landscapes with cultural villages, offering travellers an immersive experience of the unique ecological and cultural features.

As the world’s largest free trade port, Hainan hosts China’s most diverse and best-preserved mainland island tropical rainforest.

Recent efforts in the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest have advanced ecological restoration, green development, conservation education and park-community integration, effectively safeguarding the authenticity and integrity of this vital ecosystem.

Notably, the Hainan gibbon, classified by the IUCN as the “world’s most endangered primate species”, has seen a remarkable recovery.

Its population has rebounded from the brink of extinction to seven groups totalling 42 individuals, representing the only continuously growing gibbon population worldwide.

— BERNAMA