Yvon Le Maho, an emeritus analysis director on the French National Centre for Scientific Research, venture supervisor on the Monaco Scientific Center and member of the French Academy of Sciences, expressed his admiration for China’s achievements in ecological conservation, scientific analysis and worldwide cooperation, throughout a latest unique interview with Science and Technology Daily.
The esteemed scholar, who has known as on China and France to strengthen their cooperation in biodiversity, was invited to attend the 2025 World Science and Technology Development Forum (WSTDF) held in Beijing just lately, the place he emphasised the discussion board’s significance in fostering exchanges amongst international consultants and biodiversity trade pioneers.
Significance of biodiversity
Given his coaching as a biologist and ecologist, Maho has all the time connected nice significance to defending biodiversity. “Biodiversity is not just about a collection of different species, but rather the whole of their interactions,” he stated, including that when in equilibrium, the advantages of wealthy biodiversity aren’t all the time so apparent, as it is just when biodiversity is adversely impacted that individuals are in a position to perceive the function it performs as a significant part of the ecosystem.
According to Maho, biodiversity serves us in so some ways. Agricultural produce depends closely on the microbial variety of soil, on the resistance of crop varieties to pests and climate hazards, and on wholesome populations of pollinating bugs. More importantly, diversified ecosystems might help alleviate the results of local weather change, as they’re extra resilient to rising temperatures and excessive occasions.
“Biodiversity is also a major source for biomedical innovation: lots of pharmaceutical drugs are based on a plant molecule,” Maho stated. He has been specializing in finding out how wild animals deal with local weather change, which is able to encourage biomedical innovation to some extent. An instance of that is the antimicrobial molecule the French scientist found in penguins, that helps them protect meals saved of their stomachs. This molecule was subsequently used within the improvement of an antibiotic drug.
China’s achievement in ecological conservation
Maho stated that he’s constantly impressed by China’s outstanding achievements in ecological preservation since he started to work with Chinese scientists 15 years in the past. He highlighted the developments seen with the Hainan gibbon, a species beneath China’s highest degree of state safety and the rarest primate worldwide, whose numbers have elevated from about 13 to 37 within the final 20 years. He additionally identified the crested ibis, whose inhabitants in China has risen from solely seven within the Eighties to over 9,000 final yr, accounting for 90 % of the species worldwide.
China is without doubt one of the prime 12 mega-diverse nations on this planet due to its huge measurement and distinctive ecosystems, which embrace grasslands, deserts, coral reefs, forests, wetlands, mangroves, and huge rivers. China’s technique of defending biodiversity has impressed international efforts by offering possible methods to strike a steadiness between financial improvement and biodiversity conservation.
Maho additionally recommended China’s efforts to determine nationwide parks, together with the nation’s astounding mangrove restoration work, which he claims is the quickest on this planet. “Across plateaus, mountains, and rainforests, wildlife is rebounding in China as the country strives to establish the world’s largest national park system by 2035,” he stated, citing the conservation efforts for a number of wetlands.
International cooperation is vital
Deepened worldwide trade and cooperation, and the promotion of sustainable improvement by sci-tech innovation are urgently wanted to deal with necessary international points, which is a consensus reached on the WSTDF.
Maho applauded the occasion, because it brings collectively quite a few scientists and facilitates precious exchanges with Chinese researchers. This yr overseas scientists voiced their agency help for openness and cooperation, expressing their willingness to deepen exchanges with China, and produce extra revolutionary outcomes by partnerships.
Maho shared his efforts to determine a community devoted to biodiversity. With sturdy help from the leaders of each nations, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and France’s major analysis group have agreed to create a community that connects Chinese and French scientists targeted on this very important space. “Chinese scientists are able to tour our laboratories and universities. This is a significant step in advancing our collaborative initiatives,” he stated.
In February 2024, Maho was honored with the 2023 Chinese Government Friendship Award, the very best honor bestowed upon foreigners for his or her distinctive contributions to worldwide cooperation between China and the world.
He cautioned that biodiversity is beneath menace, as evidenced by the decline of sure species. “We must recognize the significance of plants and insects in China, as their decline could have serious repercussions for food security,” he emphasised, including that, “Regardless of differences, the international [community] should work together to preserve biodiversity, which is essential for the future of upcoming generations and is a key strategy for tackling climate change.”