ABSTRACT
China has embraced the MAB Programme; it has one of the longest-standing national committees and the third largest number of biosphere reserves of any member country in the network. Given past conservation and sustainability challenges, the biosphere reserve was a new model that could help recognize, connect, and integrate nature protection, science, and education with the interests of local communities. This chapter identifies some of the challenges and efforts to implement the MAB Programme in China, demonstrating strong scientific interest and increasing involvement of local communities over time. Present initiatives demonstrate China’s commitment to multilateral agreements on biodiversity conservation and climate change.
