Lately, the Global Change Research Symposium: Smart Solutions for Sustainable and Healthy Cities, organized by Beijing Forestry University and hosted by the College of Forestry of BFU, was successfully held at the university. Vice President Zou Guohui attended the symposium and delivered a speech.

Zou emphasized that the accelerating global urbanization and the growing urban populations are placing significant pressure on resources, the environment and ecosystems. How to maintain ecological balance while sustaining rapid development and achieving sustainable urban construction becomes a critical issue for us all. Against this backdrop, the theme of "Smart Solutions for Sustainable and Healthy Cities" is highly pertinent. Through this symposium, we hope to further deepen international academic exchanges, share global successes and innovative strategies in urban sustainable development and health management from around the world, and work together to build a more beautiful and livable urban environment.

Spanning three days, this symposium features three sub sessions and a main session, covering four key topics: the use of IoT sensors in urban ecosystem service monitoring, national park development and biodiversity conservation, selection and landscape pattern optimization for urban forestry, and the impacts of urban forests on public health and life quality, along with building resilience in urban forests through natural solutions. A total of 42 detailed presentations were delivered with experts and scholars from globally engaging in in-depth discussions on smart solutions for sustainable and healthy cities, sharing latest research findings and practical insights, and exploring opportunities for international collaborative research.

The symposium will facilitate BFU in establishing long-term cooperation with top-tier domestic and international academic institutions and research bodies in urban forestry, and the university will use this opportunity to further enhance the level of our "Double First-Class" disciplines, continuously strengthening our global scientific services and international standing.

A diverse group of representatives from over 20 esteemed institutions, including BFU, Italy’s University of Tuscia and University of Bari, National University of Singapore, University of Wisconsin, European Forest Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, University of Hong Kong, Fudan University, and key Chinese institutions like the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Forestry attended the symposium, and attendees included scientists, teacher and student representatives, as well as leaders from Office for International Relations and College of Forestry, BFU.

Written by Fan Dayong
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang