From April 16 to 21, 2026, a delegation from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), including Senior Engineer WANG Guoqin, Professor WANG Jian, Associate Professors HUANG Mei and WANG Xiaoyue, and Assistant Professor HE Jiaying, visited Benin for field investigation, academic exchange, and institutional collaboration. The visit was supported by an international (regional) cooperation and exchange project funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), aiming to strengthen China–Africa collaboration in ecosystem monitoring and sustainable development.

During the visit, the delegation held meetings with the Ministry of Finance of Benin and the National University of Agriculture of Benin. Discussions focused on sustainable natural resource management, ecosystem monitoring and assessment, agricultural and food system resilience, and climate change adaptation. Both sides reached a consensus on strengthening scientific collaboration and capacity building.

During the visit to the National University of Agriculture, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed among IGSNRR, the National University of Agriculture of Benin, and the UNEP International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP) of the United Nations Environment Programme. The MoU aims to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism and promote joint research, capacity building, and technology applications in ecosystem monitoring and assessment, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable agricultural development. According to the agreement, the three parties will collaborate in joint research proposals, academic exchange and training, and demonstration site development, contributing to the achievement of regional Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On April 20, the delegation organized an international workshop titled “Land Use and Vegetation Changes in West Africa: Driving Forces and Feedbacks.” The workshop brought together representatives from government agencies, research institutions, and universities across Benin, Togo, Ghana, and other West African countries. Discussions focused on vegetation dynamics, ecosystem services, climate change impacts, and their implications for sustainable development. Members of the delegation delivered presentations on topics including vegetation dynamics under global change and their relevance to SDGs, satellite-based monitoring of global vegetation restoration, and the realization of ecological product value and data assetization. These presentations showcased recent advances in ecological remote sensing and ecosystem modeling in China.

The delegation also conducted extensive field investigations, examining land-use changes and remnant forest ecosystems along the transect, and focusing on integrated agricultural systems and landscape evolution in representative regions. These field activities provided valuable insights into the structure and functioning of typical West African ecosystems, as well as current land-use dynamics and environmental challenges.

This visit has further strengthened the foundation for cooperation between IGSNRR and its partners in Benin and the wider West African region, advancing collaborative research and capacity building in ecosystem monitoring, climate change response, and sustainable development. Through enhanced international collaboration and knowledge exchange, the initiative provides important scientific support for improving regional environmental governance and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa.

Delegation visit to the Ministry of Finance of Benin