Hainan to Host 2026 Global Tropical Rainforest Conference

The Media OutReach Newswire reports that the 2026 Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem Partners Conference will take place from November 18 to 22, 2026, in Haikou, Hainan Province, China. Under the theme “Global Treasures · Shared Future,” the event will bring together representatives from the Amazon, the Congo Basin, the Malay Archipelago, and the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest to foster dialogue and exchange on protecting the world’s “green lungs.” Tropical rainforests cover less than one-tenth of Earth’s land area but host over half of all plant and animal species, making their conservation a global priority.

Hainan, China’s only tropical island province, is home to the country’s largest and best-preserved contiguous tropical rainforest on a continental island. Established in 2021, the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest spans more than 4,269 square kilometers, protects over 95 percent of the island’s primary forests, and maintains a forest coverage rate of 95.9 percent with 100 percent water and air quality excellence. Over the past five years, conservation efforts have yielded remarkable results: the Hainan gibbon population has grown to 44 individuals across seven groups—the only gibbon population worldwide showing sustained growth—and 91 previously undocumented wild plant and animal species have been recorded. An integrated space-air-ground ecological 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 (IUCN) as a global model for protecting rare species.

The conference will feature two keynote forums and four parallel forums exploring how forests serve as reservoirs of water, sources of food, generators of economic value, and carbon sinks. Key topics include water conservation, aquatic ecological security, sustainable use of forest food resources, unlocking the value of ecological products, and carbon management in rainforests. The event will also spotlight Hainan’s bid for dual World Heritage recognition, bringing 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. 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; 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 will serve as China’s green calling card to the world and a platform for international cooperation on rainforest conservation.