Event ID: 90 Title: Promoting Value Transformation of Ecological Products for High Quality Sustainable Green Development
The value transformation of ecological products has emerged as a key strategy to align biodiversity conservation with sustainable economic development in biosphere reserves. As countries accelerate efforts toward green transitions, there is growing recognition that biosphere reserves can serve as demonstration sites for integrating nature-based solutions, inclusive livelihoods, and sustainable markets. Within this context, the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asiaand the Heilongjiang Forestry and Grassland Administration (HFGA)launched a strategic collaboration in 2025, to prioritize seven areas of action, including ecological product development, biodiversity conservation, nature education, and application for UNESCO's Ecohydrology Demonstration Sites. The initiative builds on regional ecological strengths, including Heilongjiang's "Nine Treasures and Eighteen Delicacies" ecological products.
| Preliminary Agenda | |
| Time | Content |
| 13:00-13:15 | Promotion Videos/ (~3 min each) about 5 BRs: BRs promotion videos from Asia and the Pacific Final video: Heilongjiang "Nine Treasures and Eighteen Delicacies" promotion video (5min) |
| 13:15-13:40 | Opening Ceremony |
| (5min each) | Moderator: Dr. Ai SUGIURA, Programme Specialist and Head of Natural Sciences Unit, UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia Prof. Shahbaz KHAN, Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia H. E. Mr. Bruno Angelet, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in China Official from National Forestry and Grassland Administration to be invited by Heilongjiang Forestry and Grassland Administration (HFGA) Official from Heilongjiang Provincial Government |
| 13:40-14:00 | Keynote Speech |
1. Prof Qunli HAN, Former Director of UNESCO's Earth and Ecological Sciences Division and Secretary of the MAB Program Topic:The World Network of Biosphere Reserves and the Green Economy-comments and suggestions 2. Mr. SONG Guozhong, Deputy Director-General, Heilongjiang Forestry and Grassland Administration Topic: Heilongjiang's Practices in Promoting the Value Transformation of Ecological Products for High-Quality, Sustainable Green Development 3. Mr. Pan Liang – Chief Sustainability Expert, BYD Topic: The Three Green Dreams of BYD and Environmental Social Responsibility | |
| 14:00-14:20 | Panel Discussion I: Framing Ecological Product Transformation in the MAB Context |
Moderator: Dr. Ai SUGIURA (UNESCO/BEJ) 1. Dr. LEI Jingpin, Professor, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation in China 2. Prof Roman JASHENKO,MAB Kazakhstan (TBD) 3. Dr Tatjana, MAB Russia, "Sustainable Livelihoods and Ecologically-Responsible Business in the BRs: a Case Study of Katunskiy BR, Russia 4. Dr XIN Shuyu,Project Management Division, APFNet Secretariat: Integrating mangrove restoration and livelihood improvement in Pyindaye Mangrove Forest Reserve of Myanmar | |
| 14:20-14:40 | Panel Discussion II: Innovation, Labelling, and Community Empowermentin Ecological Product Transformation |
Moderator: Prof. Jianxin MU Heilongjiang "Nine Treasures and Eighteen Delicacies" promotion video 1 Prof. LIU Long, Vice President, Jiangnan University 2. Dr. FENG Lei, Deputy Director-General, Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry Sciences 3. Mr. PAN Liang, Principle Specialist for Sustainable Development of BYD Topic: BYD's Three Green Dreams and Commitment to Ecological and Environmental Social Responsibility 4. Prof. GUO Xiaorui, Northeast Forestry University | |
| 14:40-14:45 | Launching of Heilongjiang Invitation and Closing remarks |
Signing ceremony on the "Heilongjiang Invitation" by HFGA and UNESCO endorsed by Mr. ZHANGLiming (Director General, NFGA) andthe panelists. Final words by Prof. Shahbaz KHAN, Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia | |
