A waterfall in Fujian Liangyeshan National Nature Reserve. [Photo/VCG]

Fujian Liangyeshan National Nature Reserve in Longyan, Fujian province, has been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, making it the province's first protected area to receive this recognition.

The Green List certification ceremony took place in Armenia during the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held from Oct 19 to 30. The IUCN awarded certificates to 25 protected areas across seven countries, including 11 in China, recognizing them as among the world's best-managed natural areas.

Established by the IUCN, the Green List is one of the highest international honors for protected areas. It aims to advance biodiversity conservation through effective management.

Since beginning the application process in the first half of this year, the reserve's administration has evaluated its management against 17 criteria and 50 indicators covering four key areas: good governance, sound planning, effective management, and conservation outcomes. It compiled nearly a decade of conservation achievements and underwent multiple rounds of rigorous reviews by domestic and international experts, as well as on-site inspections.

The recognition highlights the reserve's management performance in ecological conservation, community development, scientific research, and public education, setting a benchmark for protected area development in Fujian province.