The Poyang Lake Ecosystem Restoration Initiative’s third phase has begun, according to a statement from Sateri and Conservation International. Building on the initiative’s notable achievements since its launch in 2019, this new phase represents a crucial turning point in the restoration of China’s biggest freshwater lake by including carbon neutrality initiatives.
Poyang Lake, which contributes more than 15% of the Yangtze River’s yearly runoff and is situated in Jiangxi Province in the southeast of the nation, is essential to controlling floods in the Yangtze River and providing for the livelihoods of the more than 45 million residents of the province. Additionally, it is a nationally and internationally significant wetland that serves as a home for highly valuable wildlife and plants, such as the finless porpoise and the severely endangered Siberian crane.
This new stage represents the fifth year of cooperation between Sateri, a major worldwide textile fiber manufacturer, and Conservation International, a global non-profit organization devoted to preserving wildlife for the benefit of people and the planet. Since its launch in 2019, the program has had notable achievements, such as:
- Strengthening the management of 473,000 hectares of protected areas across 50 ecological zones;
- Enhancing the capability of 2,000 wetland rangers through capacity-building programme;
- Improving the habitat management of 350 species of wildlife, including the critically endangered finless porpoise and Siberian crane;
- Supporting the construction of five community artificial-wetlands for wastewater treatment, which can treat 56,000 tonnes of agricultural and domestic sewage; and
- Benefiting 25,000 local community members through livelihood support, vocational capacity-building and environmental education programmes.
“This initiative has truly enhanced biodiversity conservation and ecological education, while empowering local communities with sustainable livelihoods,” said Zhang Cheng, Program Director of Conservation International China, highlighting the project’s wider effect. It illustrates the need of teamwork in striking a balance between ecological preservation and human welfare.
The recently announced third phase will build on these achievements in keeping with Sateri’s 2030 goal of being a “net positive impact” firm by concentrating on:
- Research on the Freshwater Health Index (FHI) for the basin
- Protection and restoration of small wetlands
- Better climate change mitigation and adaptation for resilience
Supported by the Jiangxi Province’s Jiujiang Municipal Government, this partnership demonstrates the organizations’ shared dedication to promoting biodiversity and sustainable development in one of China’s most important freshwater environments.
Sateri’s attempts to tackle environmental issues through collaborations and practical measures are shown by the Poyang Lake Basin Ecological Protection Project. In order to accomplish these objectives, the organization still places a high priority on sustainability and biodiversity protection while promoting teamwork.
“At the core of our operations lies a commitment to the bioeconomy, where we aim to protect the natural resources we use,” said Cai Zhichao, Vice President of Operations at Sateri, highlighting the initiative’s fit with the company’s sustainability aims. In addition to helping us achieve our internal sustainability goals, this conservation effort advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN, which include: 6: Clean Water and Sanitation; 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; 13: Climate Action; and 15: Life on Land. We achieve this by using low-carbon techniques, cutting-edge technology, and creativity.
