The 2019 International Seminar on Cross-border Protection of Tigers and Leopards successfully took place at Northeast Forestry University in Harbin, in northeastern Heilongjiang province, on July 28-30.

Around 300 experts and scholars from 10 countries and 10 international organizations were invited to attend the seminar, including those from China, Russia, Vietnam and Pakistan – as well as the World Wide Fund for Nature, also known as the World Wildlife Fund.

During the three-day seminar, a total of six conferences were held and the Harbin Consensus on Strengthening Cross-border Protection Cooperation of Tiger and Leopard was signed.

Talks at the seminar centered on monitoring technologies for the large cats, the measures for improving the fragmented habitats of tigers and leopards, establishing wildlife damage compensation mechanisms and wildlife national parks, as well as reducing human-animal conflicts. It also called for deepening international cooperation for cross-border protection of tigers and leopards.

Officials from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China delivered a speech at the seminar, noting that China attached great importance to protecting wild animals. They added that achievements have been made, as reflected in the population of Siberian tigers and Siberian leopards which was growing significantly as their habitat and environment improved.

Taking Sino-Russian cooperation as an example, officials added that great efforts had been made to establish an environment where Siberian tigers could move freely across the border between the two countries. That progress has come in the wake of the signing of the China-Russia Cooperation Agreement on Cross-border Protection of Siberian tigers and Siberian leopards in 2010.

Protected habitats for Amur tigers and leopards Russia’s neighboring Baodi Park were established, covering an area of 1.49 million hectares, providing an ideal living environment for the big cats living in the areas around the China-Russia border.

Officials said the two sides would continue to deepen their cooperation in establishing ecological corridors and expand protected habitats in the Changbai Mountains, Greater Khingan Range and the Lesser Khingan Mountains.

Meanwhile, China has also carried out a survey of the Siberian tiger and leopard population, implemented a "China Wild Tiger Recovery Plan", improved the laws and regulations on wildlife protection and completely banned the trade of tiger products and tiger bone medicine.

The opening ceremony for the 2019 International Seminar on Cross-border Protection of Tigers and Leopards is held at Northeast Forestry University in Harbin, in northeastern Heilongjiang province, on July 28. [Photo/chinanews.com]

A wild Siberian tiger prowls at Laoyeling Siberian Tiger National Reserve Zone. [Photo/chinanews.com]