On October 29, the United Nations Environment Programme formally announced at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) “Restoration Day” event in Yerevan, Armenia, that the China Blue Bays Action has been named a 2026 UN World Restoration Flagship Project. Led jointly by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Finance, the nationwide initiative earned the international honor due to its outstanding achievements in marine ecological conservation and restoration.
China Blue Bays Action Secures United Nations Flagship Project Honor
The announcement marks the second time a nationwide ecological restoration action from China has received the flagship designation, following the 2022 recognition of the China Shan-Shui Initiative. According to official reports, this makes China the first country to win the flagship project distinction twice for nationwide initiatives. The World Restoration Flagship projects are launched jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration framework, selecting large-scale and influential restoration actions worldwide.
During the 13th and 14th Five-Year Plan periods, central government funding supported coastal provinces in implementing 194 major marine ecological restoration projects. These efforts deployed 36.63 billion yuan in central financial award funds, helping drive the treatment and restoration of coastal wetlands and the management of smooth cordgrass across more than 150,000 hectares, alongside the rehabilitation of over 2,000 kilometers of coastline.
Did You Know? The World Restoration Flagship initiatives highlight large-scale ecosystem recovery actions globally, with this year’s cohort also featuring projects from countries such as Colombia, Ethiopia, Italy, and the United States.
Local Restoration Practices Across Coastal Regions
Local implementation details highlight specific regional projects contributing to the national marine strategy. In Jiangsu Province, the city of Yancheng utilized comprehensive measures such as hydrological network restoration, micro-topography remodeling, and smooth cordgrass management to improve its coastal wetland ecosystems. These actions resulted in a 45% increase in benthic biomass, including species of snails and bivalves, while creating a habitat for 34 threatened bird species listed on the IUCN Red List.
In Guangzhou, project engineers working along the Jiaomen Waterway addressed strong water currents and intensive urban development by deploying ecological engineering methods and tiered mangrove plantings. Meanwhile, in Danzhou City, Hainan Province, local authorities cleared abandoned aquaculture waste, dredged ancient water channels, and reconnected water systems around Laoshi Village to revive degraded wetlands and restore ancient salt pans that now produce about 40,000 catties of salt monthly.
United Nations praises China marine restoration
The United Nations Environment Programme evaluated the China Blue Bays Action as one of the world’s most scalable, ambitious, and demonstrably inspiring large-scale ecological restoration cases, noting its dedication to improving marine environments and enhancing the long-term well-being of local communities. Ministry of Natural Resources officials stated that the recognition affirms China’s practical achievements in marine protection and showcases the country’s commitment to global ocean governance.
Under these ongoing efforts, China's mangrove forest area has grown to 31,700 hectares.
As a possible next step, authorities plan to use the flagship project designation as a new starting point to advance coastal protection initiatives, coordinate marine restoration with disaster reduction, and promote the translation of ecological value into sustainable economic benefits for coastal communities.
Answers about the China Blue Bays Action
When and where was the China Blue Bays Action named a flagship project?
The announcement was made on October 29 during the “Restoration Day” event at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) held in Yerevan, Armenia.
Which government bodies led the awarded restoration action?
The China Blue Bays Action was organized and implemented under the joint leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Finance.
How much financial support was provided by the central government for marine restoration?
During the 13th and 14th Five-Year Plan periods, central financial authorities allocated 36.63 billion yuan in reward and subsidy funds to support 194 major marine ecological repair projects across coastal provinces.
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