Britain’s Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, has given a speech on conservation and illegal wildlife trade at a biodiversity conservation meeting named “Conservation on the borders” in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) on March 4. He spoke passionately about the importance of protecting wildlife.

  At the conference, the prince said the illegal wildlife trade was everyone’s “common enemy” and expressed his fear that rare species, such as elephants, could be extinct in his lifetime. “We seem to be hurtling towards that tragic outcome,” he told the audience at XTBG – where his grandfather Prince Philip visited almost 30 years ago.

 “The illegal wildlife trade is therefore our common enemy. It is a vicious form of criminality: plundering the natural resources of poorer countries, taking lives, hindering development and spreading corruption” said the Prince.

  He also planted a Dillenia indica tree in Commemorative Plant Garden of XTBG close to the one planted by his grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh when he visited with Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.

 He told the audience that he planted a tree in XTBG in the shelter of a Parashorea chinensis tree his grandfather planted.

  “When we plant a tree we do so knowing that, although it will take years to grow, it will yield great benefits for future generations. The same is true of the decisions we make today to protect wildlife”. With these remarks, he ended his speech.

  The prince interacted with a group of students on biodiversity conservation and studies after his speech.

  During his stay in XTBG, the prince visited the Flower Garden, Medicinal Plant Garden, Palm Garden, and Commemorative Plant Garden.

Prince William talks with XTBG students

Prof. Chen Jin ( R 2) shows the prince around Medicinal Plant Garden

Look at the tree planted by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh