Report on a Visit to China - Freek Venter, SANParks - December 2013
Introduction I had the privilege to attend a conference called the Changbai Mountain International Eco-Forum,held from 15-19 September 2013 in Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve(CMNNR), China. The CMNNRis approximately 1600km northeast of Beijing, close to the boundary between China and North Korea. I was nominated by the Kruger to Canyons(K2C)Biosphere Reserve to attend, howevermy talkcovered both the KNP and K2C. therewere two South Africans at the conference as Mr ThivhulawiNethonondarepresented the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa. The conference was attended by roughly 200 delegates whoincluded representatives from Chinese Government Departments, the Changbai Mountain Administrative Committee, Changbai Mountain National Reserve Management Bureau, and Changbai Mountain Management Committee as well as UNESCO Beijing Office Man and the Biosphere (MAB)Programs, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), etc. Many managers of p