As the follow-up of the International Forum on Ecological Civilization: Chongming Island - Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, held on October 11-12, 2018 in Shanghai, which proposed to establish an eco-island scientific alliance, the Workshop on International Ecological Islands took place on Chongming Island in Shanghai on October 18-19, announcing the establishment of the International Eco-Island Science Alliance (IEISA), which will be headquartered at Institute of Eco-Chongming, East China Normal University.
Hosted by ECNU, the workshop invites experts and scholars of nearly 30 prestigious research institutions and universities from all over the world such as China, the United States, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Thailand, Romania and Estonia. They discussed how to build an International Eco-Island Science Alliance and provided recommendations for the development of Chongming as a model of world-class ecological islands.
Jianwu Tang, Director of IEC & Chairman of the Organizing Committe, acting as moderator at the opening ceremony
More than 20 invited speakers gave presentations on the following topics: index systems to evaluate eco-islands, science, technologies, and policy for building eco-islands, regenerative agriculture and eco-agriculture, ecotourism, wetland management, renewable energy, water environment and ecological education and public awareness.
Invited speakers
Discussions
On the morning of October 19, participants were engaged in lively discussions on the establishment of International Eco-Island Science Alliance. In the closing session, participants unanimously agreed to sign on the Founding Announcement of International Eco-Island Science Alliance, which formally declared the establishment of IEISA.
Facing stresses from societal development and climate change, including sea-level rise and increased storm events, global islands play a unique role toward sustainability and adaptation to climate change. The newly established International Eco-Island Science Alliance will conduct collaborative, international research and development on island ecology and sustainable development, with the aim to remove scientific and technological obstacles for eco-island establishment, and to create a world-class innovation base for eco-island development. To be specific, IEISA will develop an index system to evaluate eco-islands, encourage and promote sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, and renewable energy. Furthermore, IEISA will develop new technology and methods to manage water resources, wetlands and seashores, protect pristine biodiversity, control invasive species, tackle atmospheric pollution, protect island ecosystems, and pursue carbon-neutral economy. We promote ecological education and increase public awareness and citizen participation, and strengthen the open communication among stakeholders.
In recent years global scientists have started to work substantially with long-term cooperation for the development of eco-islands, thus IEISA shall provide strong scientific support for the development of Chongming Island into a world-class ecological island.
Establishment of the International Eco-Island Science Alliance
Visit to the Dongtan Wetland Bird Nature Reserve
After the meeting, attendees took a tour around the Dongtan Wetland Bird Nature Reserve on Chongming Island to know more about the history of the wildlife reserve, migration and habitat protection of migratory birds, and prevention of invasive species.