The International Mangrove Center (IMC), headquartered in Shenzhen, officially began operations yesterday by hosting its inaugural council meeting, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. As the world’s first intergovernmental organization dedicated to mangrove conservation, the center currently includes eight member states and 13 signatory countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Yesterday’s meeting confirmed that the IMC Secretariat will be permanently based in Shenzhen. China has increased its mangrove area to 31,700 hectares — a 44% rise since 2000 — making it one of the few nations to achieve a sustained net gain in mangrove coverage