Welcome to “Ambassadors for Nature”, comprising an informal group of diplomatic missions in Beijing, each of which is endeavouring to manage its embassy premises and grounds in a wildlife-friendly, biodiversity-enhancing way. The initiative was launched at an Ambassadors’ Roundtable hosted at the New Zealand Embassy in July 2022. The aim is to work to align the participating diplomatic missions with the new Global Biodiversity Framework, due to be agreed by more than 190 countries at the 15th meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Montreal in December 2022 under China’s presidency.
On this page can be found: our Pledge for Nature, resources, a list of members and latest news. If you are a representative of a diplomatic mission in Beijing not yet part of the initiative, or indeed from anywhere in the world, why not join us?
Our Pledge for Nature
Embassies and their grounds can be important refuges for urban wildlife. In recognition of the global biodiversity crisis, the Global Biodiversity Framework due to be agreed at COP15 in 2022, and the importance of contributions from all sectors of society we, as ambassadors in Beijing, intend to support nature. Our Embassies will make choices that advance biodiversity. For example, we will seek to:
- Undertake an audit of the wildlife in the grounds of the embassy and other diplomatic premises at least once in each season of the year
- Keep records of wildlife sightings
- When planting, choose native species of tree, shrubs and other plants. We will also assess the plant species already on the embassy grounds and, where practical, over time remove non-native species
- Take at least two of the following measures to support wildlife:
- Reduce and, as far as possible, eliminate the use of pesticides.
- Allocate an area (for example, 10% of the overall area) that can be kept ‘wild’ with minimal management and erect signage explaining this to residents and visitors;
- Make and erect nest boxes for birds and/or insect hotels;
- Help to reduce the risk of bird collisions with glass by using bird-safe glass, ultraviolet patterns or other mitigation measures.
- Promote awareness among diplomatic staff about biodiversity, including information about urban wildlife that can be found in Beijing, and the actions the embassy is taking to support nature.
- Nominate a point of contact responsible for this initiative who can report to the network on the actions of the embassy, arrange the audits and report records of wildlife.
Resources
A list of native plant species
A guide to the most common urban wildlife in Beijing
A guide to making and erecting nest boxes for birds in Beijing
Recommendations for embassy gardeners
List of Members
Founding members: New Zealand, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Norway, Peru, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, UK and the United Nations.
Partners and Advisors: Dr Wang Xiaoping of the Beijing Forest and Parks Bureau, Professor Lu Zhi of Peking University, Professor Yolanda Van Heezik of Otago University and Terry Townshend of Wild Beijing.
Latest News
7 December 2022
US Ambassador, Nicholas Burns, is the newest member of the Ambassadors for Nature. Here he is receiving a copy of the recently published “Birds of Beijing”. Nicholas and his wife are avid birders and bee-keepers and are looking forward to playing an active role in the group.
2 December 2022
Alenka Suhadolnik, the Slovenian Ambassador to China, hosted a “honey breakfast” to celebrate bees and other pollinators. The breakfast included a short presentation (see slides below this post) from Professor Chen Lihong of the Apicultural Science Association of China (ASAC) covering the value of bees, showcasing the most important native pollen and nectar trees and plants in Beijing. Discussions are underway about the ASAC supporting embassies to host bee hives in their compounds as part of the Ambassadors for Nature initiative. Huge thanks to Alenka and her team for hosting the event.
25 November 2022
The UN Development Programme, led by Resident Representative Beate Trankmann, hosted the latest Ambassadors for Nature meeting at the UN compound in Liangmaqiao. Despite the challenging Covid-related restrictions, the meeting was joined by representatives from France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Slovenia and the US. The meeting was an opportunity to thank Clare Fearnley, outgoing New Zealand Ambassador, for her vision, leadership and energy in setting up the group, to hear about UNDP’s actions so far to manage their compound in a more low carbon and nature-friendly way, and to participate in a screening of a documentary on the Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey, followed by a Q&A with Chinese wildlife photographer, Xi Zhinong.
29 October 2022
A seminar on the birds of Beijing, including how to identify the most likely species to be seen in the centre of the city, was held at the New Zealand Embassy on Saturday 29 October. More than 20 representatives from diplomatic missions in Beijing participated.
A PDF of the lecture (without the videos and sounds) can be found here:
Bird Identification Workshop for Ambassadors for Nature
29 September 2022
A seminar for diplomatic gardeners, hosted by the Belgian Embassy, to discuss wildlife-friendly gardening and to share experience and ideas.
See the recommendations here, following discussion with ShanShui Conservation Center.
7 July 2022
The Ambassadors for Nature initiative was launched at the New Zealand Embassy involving 14 missions.
For inquiries, please contact us using the form below.
This page is hosted by Wild Beijing on behalf of the Ambassadors for Nature initiative.
Header image: Ambassadors and representatives from diplomatic missions at the launch of the “Ambassadors for Nature” initiative at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing, July 2022