From July 9 toJuly 4, 2023, hosted by the Urban Development and Land Policy Research Center of Peking University-Lincoln Institute (Peking University-Lincoln Center), with co-organizers from The Nature Conservancy, the Nature Conservancy Center, and the Turen Design and Sustainable Global Environment Research InstituteThe week-long summer academic exchange workshop "Theory, Methods, and Practice of Nature Conservation in the Process of Urbanization" was successfully held at Wangshan Commune, Xixinan Town, Huangshan City. This workshop consists of eight themed lectures and one field study. 4Two participants from universities, research institutions, international organizations, and related enterprises participated together in the workshop.The opening ceremony was hosted by Mr. Liu Zhi, Director of the Peking University-Lincoln Center. 

Lecture 1: The Evolution and Effects of China's Ecological Environment Policy (Lin Jiabin).

 On the morning of July 10, after a brief opening ceremony, Mr. Lin Jiabin, a researcher at the Social and Cultural Research Department of the Development Research Center of the State Council, delivered an excellent lecture. The lecture, titled "The Evolution and Effects of China's Ecological Environment Protection Policies," provided participants with a panoramic view of the history and current status of China's ecological environment policies. Mr. Lin first thoroughly reviewed the key ecological environment policy nodes, policy background, and policy content since the founding of China, then analyzed the effectiveness of China's ecological environment policies with detailed data. At the end of the lecture, Professor Lin engaged in discussions with the participants on the problems and challenges facing China's ecological environment sector, as well as hot topics in the field.

Lecture 2: Green Finance and Biodiversity Conservation (Bai Yunwen)

 On the afternoon of the 10th, Deputy Director Bai Yunwen from the Beijing Green Finance and Sustainable Development Research Institute gave a lecture titled "Green Finance and Biodiversity Conservation." Teacher Bai first introduced the concept, importance, and international consensus, consensus, and challenges of biodiversity conservation. Next, Professor Bai summarized the characteristics and current status of biodiversity protection in China, introduced theories related to natural capital and the realization of ecological product value based on domestic and international research findings, and presented the approach and specific operational framework of green finance for biodiversity conservation. Teacher Bai also vividly introduced China's innovative and successful cases of green finance supporting biodiversity conservation to the participants.

Lecture 3: International Protected Area Experience (Jim Levitt)        

Lecture 4: Methods and Tools in Natural Resource Policy—Ecological Resource Accounting and Protective Easements (Wang Yufei)

On the afternoon of January 1st, the fourth lecture was a keynote report by Dr. Wang Yufei, a researcher at the Consulting Research Department of Management World Magazine, titled "Methods and Tools in Natural Resource Policy—Ecological Resource Accounting and Conservation Easements." Dr. Wang Yufei first introduced the development history of natural capital accounting both domestically and internationally, as well as the evaluation methods for various natural resources, and explained the ecological resource asset accounting methods based on the replacement cost method and their application scenarios. Afterwards, Dr. Wang Yufei explained the definition and origins of protected easements, introduced the goal-oriented ecological compensation mechanism, and shared successful experiences in easement reform in Qianjiangyuan National Park.

Lecture 5: Territorial Spatial Optimization and Ecological Environment Protection of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (Zeng Chen)

On the morning of July 12, Professor Zeng Chen from the College of Public Administration at Huazhong Agricultural University gave a lecture titled "Territorial Space Optimization and Ecological Environment Protection in the Yangtze River Economic Belt." Professor Zeng outlined the background of territorial spatial planning and the domestic and international spatial planning systems and policy processes, focusing on empirical research on value assessment, ecological compensation, and ecological network construction in urban agglomerations along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, as well as empirical studies on territorial spatial ecological restoration in key ecological protection areas of the basin, and proposed relevant optimization strategies. The participants engaged in in-depth discussions with Professor Zeng on hot topics such as rural planning, spatial conflicts among the three zones and three lines, and integrating folk ecological conservation into national land spatial planning.

On-site Research: Xixi South

On the afternoon of the 12th, Wang Huixian and Hao Ruojing, designed by Turen, led the trainees on a field research trip to Xixi South. The trainees first stopped at Laowu Pavilion and Lürao Pavilion, where they learned about the texture and features of Huizhou-style architecture. Led by two teachers, the students walked along the creek street to the banks of the Fengle River, where they further learned about the elements of Huizhou's traditional water culture landscape, water conservancy systems, water safety patterns, and the application of nature-based solutions in ancient villages. During breaks in class, the locals organized birdwatching and nighttime insect watching activities, and everyone gained a lot from them.

Lecture 6: Exploration and Practice of Public Welfare Protection Areas in China (Jin Tong)        

On the morning of July 13, the sixth lecture was a keynote report titled "Exploration and Practice of Social Public Interest Protected Areas in China" by Dr. Jin Tong, Scientific Director of the China Program at The Nature Conservancy (T NC). Starting from the current status of global nature reserves and major types of governance, Dr. Jin Tong focused on sharing the global development history of public interest protected areas and introduced the successful experiences of public interest reserves in the United States and Australia. Subsequently, Dr. Jin Tong explored the important role of social participation in China's exploration of nature reserve systems. Finally, Dr. Jin Tong introduced the development and achievements of public interest protected areas in China through typical cases of N GO governance, community governance, and joint governance, and offered an outlook on the future.

Lecture 7: Nature Conservation and Community Co-construction in Western China—A Case Study of Sanjiangyuan (Peng Kui).

On the afternoon of the 13th, Dr. Peng Kui, Project Director of the Global Institute for Sustainable Environment (GEI), delivered a wonderful lecture titled "Nature Conservation and Community Co-construction in Western China—A Case Study of Sanjiangyuan." Dr. Peng Kui first analyzed the important role of the "multi-group co-governance" model involving indigenous peoples and local communities in biodiversity conservation from the broader context of global biodiversity conservation. Afterwards, Dr. Peng Kui discussed the key elements and processes of community protection models in China, centered on national parks. Using the practice of community co-construction in Sanjiangyuan National Park as a case study, Dr. Peng Kui vividly described the entire process from initiation to execution, giving participants a more intuitive understanding of the community co-construction model. Finally, Dr. Peng Kui further explored the relationship between ecological protection and economic development from the perspective of ecological service economy

Lecture 8: Other Effective Regional Conservation Measures (OECMs) (Shi Xiangying).

On the morning of July 14, Dr. Shi Xiangying from the Shanshui Nature Conservation Center delivered a keynote speech titled "Other Region-Based Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs)." Dr. Shi first introduced the concept, development history, and significance of OECMs, the identification process guidelines, monitoring, management, and reporting, and their differences from ICCA (International Union of Indigenous Peoples and Community Conservation) and PA (Nature Reserves). Dr. Shi also shared a survey of the development potential of China's OECMs, typical cases such as Yushu Yunta Village community reserve and snow leopard monitoring, Guanbagou watershed community reserve, and urban biodiversity conservation practices. Finally, he summarized OECMs in different types of territorial spaces, as well as the basic requirements and localization of OECMs in China, and engaged in discussions with participants on OECM-related issues

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Closing ceremony

After the lecture, Director Liu Zhi presided over the closing ceremony of the workshop. The ceremony reviewed various activities and exciting moments through video presentations. Experts Jin Tong, Peng Kui, and Shi Xiangying each shared their experiences and thoughts in the protection industry. Representatives of trainees from universities and enterprises shared their gains and reflections. Finally, Director Liu Zhi delivered a speech, expressing gratitude to the attending experts, participants, and staff of the organizing unit, and expressing heartfelt wishes for the future work and life of all the experts and participants present.

Peking University-Lincoln Center hosts themed summer workshops every year. Stay tuned.


Written by | Liu Jingyi, Liu Wei, Li Wenjing, Liu Xiuying

Photography and material compilation | Li Yunhe

Reviewed by Zhao Min