From November 18 to 22, 2026, Haikou, Hainan Province, China, will host the 2026 Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem Partners Conference, a global gathering dedicated to protecting the Earth's "green lungs." The event, announced via Media OutReach Newswire, will bring together representatives from the Amazon rainforest, the Congo Basin, the Malay Archipelago, and the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest for dialogue and exchange under the theme "Global Treasures · Shared Future." The conference embodies a shared commitment to rainforest conservation and sustainable development.
Tropical rainforests cover less than one-tenth of the Earth's land area yet harbor more than half of the world's plant and animal species. Hainan, China's only tropical island province, protects the country's largest, most concentrated and best-preserved contiguous tropical rainforest on a continental island. Since its establishment in 2021, the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest has spanned over 4,269 square kilometers, safeguarding more than 95 percent of Hainan 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 remarkable 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. In addition, 91 previously undocumented wild plant and animal species have been recorded. An integrated space-air-ground ecological monitoring system now provides round-the-clock, comprehensive monitoring and protection. The "Bawangling Model" for Hainan gibbon conservation has been recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a global model for protecting rare species.
The conference will explore how forests serve as reservoirs of water, sources of food, generators of economic value and carbon sinks. Two keynote forums and four parallel forums will address water conservation and aquatic ecological security, sustainable use of forest food resources, unlocking the value of ecological products, and carbon management in rainforests. Discussions will foster exchanges of ideas and experience.
A central focus will be Hainan's efforts to secure dual World Heritage recognition for its natural and cultural heritage. 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 explores new approaches to rainforest governance that prioritize ecological protection while delivering tangible benefits to local communities.
Supporting events will 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 into the rainforest; media tours; 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 island-wide special customs operations and the national park marks its fifth anniversary, the conference serves as China's green calling card to the world and a platform for international dialogue and cooperation on rainforest conservation.
