Representatives from the Amazon, the Congo Basin, the Malay Archipelago, and other major rainforest regions will gather in Haikou, Hainan Province, China, from Nov. 18 to 22, 2026, for the Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem Partners Conference. The event, announced via Media OutReach Newswire, is themed “Global Treasures · Shared Future” and aims to foster dialogue on protecting the Earth’s “green lungs.”
The conference matters because tropical rainforests cover less than one-tenth of the Earth’s land area but harbor more than half of the world’s plant and animal species. By bringing together diverse rainforest stakeholders, the meeting seeks to address shared challenges and promote sustainable development practices that balance ecological protection with economic value.
Hainan, China’s only tropical island province, is home to the country’s largest and best-preserved contiguous tropical rainforest on a continental island. The National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest, established in 2021, spans over 4,269 square kilometers and protects more than 95 percent of the island’s primary forests. Its forest coverage rate remains stable at 95.9 percent, while water and air quality excellence rates both stand at 100 percent.
Over the past five years, the park has recorded significant ecological achievements. The Hainan gibbon population has grown to 44 individuals across seven groups, making it the only gibbon population in the world to show sustained growth. Additionally, 91 previously undocumented wild plant and animal species have been recorded. An integrated space-air-ground monitoring system now provides round-the-clock protection, and the “Bawangling Model” for gibbon conservation has been recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a global model for protecting rare species.
The conference will feature two keynote forums and four parallel forums focusing on water conservation, aquatic ecological security, sustainable use of forest food resources, unlocking the value of ecological products, and carbon management in rainforests. These discussions will facilitate the exchange of ideas and experiences among participants.
A key focus will be Hainan’s bid for dual World Heritage recognition. The conference will bring together global expertise to support the nomination of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest and the Traditional Settlement of Li Ethnic Group for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a mixed natural and cultural heritage property. This initiative aims to explore new approaches to rainforest governance that prioritize ecological protection while benefiting local communities.
Supporting events include “Rainforest Night,” a showcase of Hainan’s intangible cultural heritage featuring Li and Miao traditions; the “Hidden Realms · Shared Life” photography exhibition; the “Gifts of Nature” ecological products market; field expeditions; and the public-interest initiative “Breathe Deep in the Rainforest · Protect Our Shared Habitat.” As the Hainan Free Trade Port approaches the first anniversary of its island-wide special customs operations and the national park marks its fifth anniversary, the conference will serve as China’s green calling card to the world and a platform for international cooperation on rainforest conservation.
