Ecological Civilization is one of the most influential environmental governance concepts in contemporary China. Rooted partly in Chinese philosophical traditions, it refers to a broad vision for reshaping the relationship between people and nature, placing ecological integrity, environmental quality, and human well-being at the center of development.

The concept is important not only for China but also for global biodiversity conservation. It offers an example of how a major country is attempting to integrate environmental priorities into national planning, governance, science, and public life. It also raises important questions: What has this framework achieved in practice? How has it changed conservation policy and implementation? What tensions or limitations remain? And which lessons may be relevant beyond China’s own cultural and political context?

We have chosen Ecological Civilization as the opening panel of ATBC 2026 because the conference brings together a global community of tropical biologists, conservation scientists, practitioners, and policy thinkers. This gathering provides an appropriate setting to examine how Chinese environmental thinking and conservation practice can contribute to broader international debates on biodiversity, sustainability, and human–nature coexistence

The panel will be moderated by Prof Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, PI of the Wildlife Interactions and Conservation team at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It will bring together three leading voices in Chinese ecology and conservation, including two Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Academician Fu Bojie will provide a perspective on Ecological Civilization as a governance framework linking landscapes, ecosystem services, and sustainable development. Academician Ma Keping will discuss its relevance for biodiversity science, conservation planning, protected areas, and China’s contribution to global biodiversity goals. Dr Hua Fangyuan will bring a complementary perspective on conservation practice, public engagement, communication, and emerging directions in ecological and conservation thinking in China. Together, they will examine how Ecological Civilization has shaped conservation thinking and practice in China, and what insights it may offer for human–nature coexistence more broadly.