Shanghai nature conservation festival to highlight ecological protection and smart governance

The 11th Shanghai International Nature Conservation Festival is set to open on Saturday, highlighting the empowerment of technological innovation on biodiversity protection and city livability, organizers said at a news briefing on Thursday.

Running through Oct 24, the festival aims to showcase Shanghai's achievements and experience in ecological protection and smart governance, inspiring a wider public globally on natural conservation and the harmony between man and nature.

The festival will feature a slew of activities of diverse forms across the city to engage the public extensively, including sessions, exhibitions, screenings, educational trips, and interactive cultural events.

Notably, over 20 scholars and experts from seven countries and regions are expected to join an online session on Saturday. Sharing experience from different perspectives, they will spotlight green and advanced technologies. Together, they will explore the approach of building a livable, modernized, and cosmopolitan city where man and nature live in harmony, while achieving high-quality green growth.

The festival also expects to involve the public more in its events and immerse them in nature. A variety of activities are set to take place across a wide range of venues in the city, including science popularization centers, science education bases, research institutes, zoos, botanical gardens, parks, nature reserves, cultural landmarks, and commercial areas.

Among the events, a photography exhibition focusing on the combination of technology and nature will open along with the festival, showcasing about 100 photos submitted by photographers across the globe. Also, a first batch of 11 ecological research routes will be offered to the public as practical classrooms where nature and culture converge.

"Over the past decade, the Shanghai International Nature Conservation Festival has evolved from a local science outreach event into an international platform. It brings together global ecological technologies and promotes public participation, accumulating a valuable 'Shanghai experience' for megacities globally," said Huang Hong, deputy director of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality.