On October 29, 2026, the United Nations announced that China’s Blue Bay Restoration Initiative had been named a World Restoration Flagship during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, Armenia.
The initiative is jointly led by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Finance, and it is the country’s second nationwide ecological restoration program to receive recognition under the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, making China the first nation to earn the title twice.
It was chosen from more than 200 applications and more than 80 government‑submitted nominations, a selection that highlights the program’s ambitious scale and potential impact on biodiversity and local livelihoods.
Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, said the Blue Bay Restoration Initiative was one of the world’s most promising, ambitious and inspiring examples of large‑scale ecosystem restoration.
The program’s goal is to restore over 150,000 hectares of coastal wetlands and more than 2,000 kilometers of coastline by 2030. These efforts are expected to create lasting benefits for local communities, including improved water quality, increased fishery productivity and reduced coastal erosion.
By restoring wetlands, the initiative will also help sequester carbon and provide critical habitats for a variety of species, advancing global climate and biodiversity goals.
The designation signals international endorsement of China’s efforts to protect natural habitats and supports the country’s commitment to sustainable environmental governance on a global scale.
