State Forestry Administration Visited Chengdu Panda Base
On November 21, 2011, Mr. Zhao Shucong the Vice-Director and Vice-Secretary of the State Forestry Administration and other officials from the State Forestry Administration and related departments, were accompanied by Mr. Zhang Zhihe the Director of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on a visit to the Chengdu Panda Base.
Ms. Hou Rong the Director of the Research Center of Chengdu Panda Base and Deputy to the National People’s Congress introduced recent scientific research on giant pandas and other endangered species, conservation education, education tourism and international cooperation to the delegation. The delegates then visited the State Key Lab, the Giant Panda Exploring Center, and the Giant Panda Nursery House.
Mr. Zhao was very positive in his praise of the achievements made by the Panda Base in giant panda ex-situ conservation, especially the scientific breakthroughs that have advanced the conservation of giant pandas and which allow for the sustainable development for giant pandas. He also spoke highly of the Base’s conservation education work.
Full time educators at the Panda Base are available to provide regular conservation lectures to participants of different age levels including kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools, high schools, universities and communities to increase conservation awareness and understanding of the global plight of wildlife. This helps the public recognize the importance of protecting wildlife and our environment, increases public involvement in conservation and promotes responsible behavior toward the environment, as well as an appreciation and respect for wildlife.
Finally, Dr. Zhang Zhihe presented a report to the delegation about the current captive population size at the Chengdu Panda Base, and the current status of the construction of the Chengdu Field Research Center for Giant Pandas at Dujiangyan. Mr. Zhang expressed his hope to continue to receive support and technical advice from Sichuan Provincial Forestry Bureau and Chengdu Forestry and Garden Bureau. Delegates from Sichuan Provincial Forestry Bureau and Chengdu Forestry and Garden Bureau agreed to support the conservation work and giant panda reintroduction at Chengdu Panda Base under the direction of State Forestry Administration.
The list of delegates included:
Mr. Zhao Shucong the Vice-Director and Vice- Secretary of the State Forestry Administration, Mr. Zhang Xiwu the Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserve Management under the State Forestry Administration, Mr. Feng Jiaping the Director General of the Planning and Finance Department of the State Forestry Administration, Mr. Sun Guoji the Director of the State Natural Forest Protection Program Management Office and Mr. Ding Xiaohua the Secretary of the State Forestry Administration, Mr. Guo Hengxiao the Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Forestry Bureau, Mr. Jiang Chu the Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Forestry Bureau, Mr. Yang Tianming the Director of the Wildlife Conservation Division of Sichuan Forestry, Mr. Tang Daixu the Director of the Planning and Finance Division of Sichuan Forestry, Mr. Nie Ping the Director of the Sichuan Natural Forest Protection Program Management Center, Mr. Ai Yuhui the Director of the Chengdu Forestry and Garden Bureau.
Source: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
