The Youth Scholars Symposium on Human-Wildlife Conflict Management in Northeast China concluded successfully on July 9, 2025, in Changchun, Jilin Province. Hosted by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Beijing Representative Office, the symposium convened over 30 representatives from government agencies, research institutions, universities, and community organizations. Its aim was to explore collaborative strategies for mitigating human-wildlife conflict, particularly in the habitats of tiger and leopard in Northeast China.
The symposium focused on six strategic areas:
- Optimizing compensation mechanisms through insurance and social support models;
- Fostering co-management frameworks involving government, communities, and NGOs;
- Promoting green economic alternatives to reduce dependence on traditional farming;
- Utilizing infrared monitoring and AI technology to lower encounter risks;
- Advancing legal education and enforcement;
- Drawing from global best practices to strengthen local innovation capacity.
A key highlight was the presentation of WWF’s “Conflicts to Coexistence” (C2C) management framework, currently being piloted in Hunchun City. Centered on inclusiveness, participation, and long-term resilience, the C2C approach integrates root-cause analysis, stakeholder collaboration, and alternative livelihoods such as Eco-tourism and herbal medicine cultivation to prevent conflicts before they escalate.
Despite progress, experts identified ongoing challenges, including limited risk resilience in local communities, outdated protection technologies, and gaps in policy implementation. They emphasized the need for improved cross-sector data sharing, technical training, and incentive mechanisms to enhance grassroots engagement.
With the expansion of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park and growth of wildlife populations, overlapping human-wildlife activity zones have led to increased incidents. In 2024, Jilin Province reported a 23% year-on-year increase in wildlife-related compensation cases, highlighting the urgency for coordinated management solutions.
The symposium not only showcased innovative models like C2C but also amplified the voice of youth in conservation policy-making. WWF reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with government, science, and communities to deliver localized, scalable solutions to global biodiversity challenges, demonstrating China’s leadership in balancing ecological protection and sustainable development.
