A series of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of China's entry into the United Nation's Convention on Biological Diversity and the 19th "International Day for Biological Diversity" were hosted in Lijiang on May 22, 2012. Picture boards and banners were used to showcase and promote the significance of biodiversity protection.

The commemoration activities were jointly hosted by the Lijiang Ecological Conservation and Development Association, Asia Green-Culture Association and Lijiang Green Education Center.

According to He Aijun, director of the Asia Green-Culture Association and Lijiang Ecological Conservation and Development Association, the activities were themed "Cherish lives around us and biodiversity is related to all".

Biodiversity is the material basis for human beings and mankind is changing the earth at an unprecedentedly fast speed. On the one hand, human beings have created rich wealth, and on the other hand, the living environment of species has greatly changed. Many species were put on the extinction list or are on the verge of extinction due to the reduction of biodiversity.

Professor Wang Song, secretary-general of CNC-Diversitas, was invited to give a lecture on biodiversity to stress the importance of its dependence on ecological protection.

"As a region with rich biodiversity resources, Lijiang has endeavored to protect biodiversity over the past two decades", said Wang. "More action and stronger awareness, however, is needed in the future to protect biodiversity."

Edited by Zhao Qian and Rakhee M