World-Class Eco-Island Chongming Marks Biological Diversity Day

A series of activities will be held in Chongming to mark the 2026 International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, with a focus on biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability.

The main event, the 2026 Shanghai Chongming Ecological Island International Forum, will take place on May 23 and feature discussions on biodiversity protection, climate resilience, green finance and sustainable development.

It will include speeches, case presentations, the signing ceremony for the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and an exhibition showcasing China's biodiversity efforts and Shanghai's environmental initiatives under this year's theme, "Acting Locally for Global Impact."

Officials, researchers and business representatives are expected to discuss issues including climate change, ecological conservation and the future development of Chongming Ecological Island.

Chongming has made remarkable achievements over the past decade since Shanghai kicked off its world-class eco-island development drive in 2016.

It has maintained a perfect compliance rate for surface water functional zones for years, kept farmland soil at top-tier clean standards, and posted better air quality and lower PM2.5 levels than Shanghai's municipal average.

Each year, more than 1 million migratory birds rest and stop at the Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve, which has earned World Natural Heritage status, making it Shanghai's first site on the prestigious list.

Accounting for nearly one-fifth of Shanghai's land area, Chongming holds one-third of the city's forest coverage.