China is undergoing rapid economic development, with a growth rate of over 11%. This development is having far-reaching effects on nature and the environment. The Chinese Government is therefore trying to improve the quality of the environment and to develop a comprehensive network of nature reserves.

The Province of Jiangsu, situated northwest of the city of Shanghai and crowded with 74 million inhabitants, aims to serve as a model region for sustainable development. The Province of Noord-Brabant is supporting this goal through a cooperation with Jiangsu.

In June 2006 ECNC participated, at the request of the Province of Noord-Brabant, in a Netherlands-EU delegation that visited the Province of Jiangsu. The topic of this visit was the ecological development of the Province of Jiangsu.

In Nanjing, the provincial capital, ECNC’s representative gave a lecture about experiences with the development of ecological infrastructure in European countries and the role of Natura 2000 in the creation of ecological networks.

Together with EU experts and the Chinese delegation, the ECNC representative visited several projects and nature reserves in Jiangsu, such as the Milu Deer Reserve. This reserve, which covers an area of 70,000 hectares, is the habitat of the famous King David deer.

The visit resulted in an agreement for further cooperation between a Dutch consortium, including the Province of Noord-Brabant and ECNC, and the Province of Jiangsu for the mapping and development of the ecological network in Jiangsu.

For further information, contact Peter von Meijenfeldt; vonmeijenfeldt@ecnc.org