Green and crimson mangrove foliage colors the Dongchong Mangrove Wetland Park in Shenzhen's Dapeng New Area, south China's Guangdong Province, on April 12, 2026.
The International Mangrove Center officially began operations on Saturday with its inaugural council meeting in Shenzhen, marking its transition from a global initiative to a permanent international organization focused on mangrove conservation and cooperation. The launch coincided with the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
The inaugural council meeting of the International Mangrove Center kicks off in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, on July 26, 2026. /CGTN
China first proposed the International Mangrove Center at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP14) in 2022. With the founding agreement entering into force in June this year, the center has now become a fully operational international institution. It brings together eight member states and 13 signatory countries, spanning some of the world's most important mangrove ecosystems across Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Egrets are seen at Dongchong Mangrove Wetland Park in Shenzhen's Dapeng New Area, south China's Guangdong Province, on April 12, 2026.
Mangroves are among the world's most valuable coastal ecosystems, playing a vital role in protecting shorelines, preserving biodiversity and strengthening resilience to climate change. Chinese authorities say the country will continue advancing mangrove conservation through stronger legal protections, large-scale ecological restoration and deeper international cooperation, with the new center set to become a global hub for scientific research, capacity building and policy collaboration.