Chongqing — Nora Sofia Cevallos, a researcher at the Latin American Academy of Social Sciences in Brazil, says the experience of ecological management along China’s Yangtze River offers valuable lessons for her home region. Speaking during a forum on river civilizations, Cevallos highlighted the importance of local collaboration and unified administration in driving successful projects.

"We have a lot to learn from this experience," Cevallos said, noting that the organization of ecological programs in the Yangtze River Economic Belt allows for more effective coordination than in the Amazon Basin, where multiple countries and administrations complicate large-scale environmental efforts.

Cevallos emphasized that the region's approach combines local knowledge with cross-regional cooperation. “If I understood, here they have collaborations between different regions,” she said. "It's working very well." According to her, this unified approach allows for broader participation by local communities and produces more tangible results.

The Brazilian researcher also noted the contrast between development models. In the Amazon, she said, projects often focus on unrestricted extraction of resources, generating destruction for the territory. In contrast, the Yangtze River’s programs demonstrate how coordinated administration and respect for local knowledge can foster sustainable outcomes.

Cevallos stressed that indigenous communities' experiences in Latin America could inform environmental strategies, but she also sees opportunities to learn from the Yangtze model. "The answers have to come from these communities," she said. "We have to learn from these initiatives."

Her observations underscore the potential of cross-regional dialogue and collaboration in addressing environmental challenges. By combining local expertise, scientific research, and coordinated management, China's approach to river ecosystems could provide a framework for other regions seeking sustainable development.