National Key R&D Program Project Discussion on Improving Biodiversity Conservation Assessment Indicators and Effectiveness Monitoring System
Shaohua Wang, Cheng Su, Junyuan Zhou, Xiao Li
April 27th, 2024 to April 29th, 2024
Dongfang Wenting Hotel, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province
To enhance the monitoring level of biodiversity conservation in China and support the achievement of biodiversity conservation goals, the National Key R&D Program project "Improving Biodiversity Conservation Assessment Indicators and Effectiveness Monitoring System" held a workshop in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province from April 27th to 29th, 2024. Hosted by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the workshop brought together representatives from various fields. Participants included Dr. Yinlong Xu from the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Fei Teng from Tsinghua University, Dr. Renqiang Li from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. Shaohua Wang from the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor Minpeng Chen from Renmin University of China, among others.
At the beginning of the conference, under the guidance of Wang Aihua, Director Expert/Senior Engineer of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the project representatives conducted field research on biodiversity intelligent monitoring systems in Baiyunshan Forest Park, water resources in the Tongji Canal Hydraulic Engineering in Liandu District, agricultural landscapes in Yunhe County, and climate change adaptation in the Songyang County Meteorological Observatory.
Fig 1：Liandu District Tongji Canal Hydraulic Engineering.
The Tongji Canal Hydraulic Engineering is located in Bihu Town, Liandu District, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province. It was built in the fourth year of the Tianjian period of the Southern Dynasty (505 AD) and has a history of 1500 years. It is the largest ancient canal in the Ou River Basin and one of the oldest, largest, and most complete stone canals in China. The Tongji Canal project consists of dams, channels, gates, etc., with a total length of about 275 meters. Downstream, it irrigates the Bihu Plain through a 22.5-kilometer-long main canal, as well as 48 branch canals and 321 furrows. It not only plays an important role in irrigation but also promotes the agricultural, economic, and social development of Liandu District, holding significant importance in the history of water conservancy in Zhejiang Province.
Fig 2：Yunhe County Terrace Landscape Ecological System.
The Yunhe Terrace Scenic Area is located in Chongtou Town, originally developed in the early Tang Dynasty and flourished during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. With a history of over 1000 years, it spans an area of 51 square kilometers with an elevation ranging from 200 meters to over 1400 meters and a vertical height difference of over 1200 meters. Crossing three geological landscape belts of high mountains, hills, and valleys, it is characterized by its large scale, strong visual impact, and unique seasonal landscapes, earning it the title of "China's Most Beautiful Terrace". The Yunhe Terrace National Wetland Park Terrace Restoration Project, as a typical case of "China's Landscape Engineering", was showcased at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). Its goal is to restore 10 million hectares of natural space, including various ecological elements such as mountains, water, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands, and sands, forming a harmonious and unique stable ecosystem complex of "marshes-forests-terraces-villages-rivers". With a total investment of over 30 million yuan, the wetland restoration project plans to restore an area of 4500 mu, including ecological bird ponds, biodiversity observation points, and experimental bases for terrace-rice-fish symbiosis.
The research work provides important references for better understanding biodiversity conservation and management in different ecosystems and fields. By studying biodiversity monitoring systems in forest parks, hydraulic engineering projects, agricultural landscapes, and meteorological stations, it is possible to gain insight into the effectiveness of conservation efforts, the impact of human activities on biodiversity, and the response of ecosystems to environmental changes. Furthermore, it provides practical guidance for the development and implementation of biodiversity conservation policies and strategies. By integrating research results from different fields such as water resources management, agriculture, and climate science, comprehensive biodiversity conservation plans can be formulated, understanding the complex interactions between human activities, ecosystems, and climate.
On April 29, 2024, the conference conducted discussions and exchanges on key technologies for climate change adaptation, decision support systems, resilience assessment, and improvement of biodiversity conservation assessment indicators and effectiveness monitoring systems in key industries. The conference focused on the assessment indicators and effectiveness monitoring systems for biodiversity conservation, aiming to exchange and discuss relevant research results, promote the transformation and application of project outcomes, and provide scientific support for enhancing the monitoring level of biodiversity conservation in China. Experts and scholars shared their research results and practical experiences, delving into the construction methods, technological applications, and practical cases of biodiversity conservation assessment indicators and effectiveness monitoring systems.
Fig 3：The attending delegates took a group photo in the conference hall.
Finally, the attendees took a group photo to commemorate the event. With that, the discussion meeting for the National Key R&D Program project "Improving Biodiversity Conservation Assessment Indicators and Effectiveness Monitoring System" under the "Key Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation, Decision Support Systems, and Resilience Assessment" project successfully concluded.