On September 10, Shanghai kicked off its “First Class of the Semester” initiative on ecological civilization at the Natural History Museum. The event also launched the city’s first comprehensive biodiversity survey and assessment exhibition.
Officials from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, Shanghai Natural History Museum, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Environmental Protection Publicity and Education Center, and the Bureau of Ecological Environment of Jing’an District attended the event. Over 40 students from Shanghai Fenghua High School and environmental experts gathered to explore biodiversity in Jing’an District through specialized lectures, exhibition visits, and interactive sessions. These efforts have planted the seeds of ecological protection in the hearts of the younger generation.
Specialized lecture: Exploring Jing’an’s ecological landscape and five-dimensional practical approaches
“In Fudeli Park, jacktrees sprout tender buds. In Zhabei Park, butterfly dragonflies rest on lotus leaves. Among the trees, crested goshawks raise their young.” The event began with a five-minute documentary showing the key findings of Jing’an District’s biodiversity survey over the past year. The survey identified 460 species of terrestrial higher plants, including ginkgo and dawn redwoods, both classified as national first-class protected plants. Additionally, it recorded 240 species of terrestrial animals, featuring national second-class protected animals such as the crested goshawk and Chinese pond turtle, along with four newly recorded insect species in Shanghai, including the Japanese maple leafhopper and Japanese apple curculio. The survey also highlighted a unique aquatic ecosystem across 13 river sections, which comprises 221 species of phytoplankton and 15 species of fish.
“Why should we protect these little creatures around us?” This was the question posed by Li Weiyue, a professor from Shanghai Normal University and representative of the biodiversity survey unit in Jing’an District. He delivered a presentation entitled “Report on Biodiversity Survey and Science Popularization Practices in Jing’an District: From Taking Stock of Our Natural Assets to Guardianship by All”.
He expanded the discussion from the protection of endangered species to the significance of discovering new ones, and had meticulously designed a five-dimensional science outreach curriculum centered on “Observing, Listening, Measuring, Analyzing, and Investigating”. “Observing” involves creating a seasonal plant journal and preserving leaves as “specimens of time”. “Listening” includes joining a “Guess the Bird Call” game to decipher the “acoustic signatures” of local birds. “Measuring” entails observing river microorganisms under a microscope. “Analyzing” uses AI to enhance survey efficiency. “Investigating” allows students to experience the real work of field biologists along simulated survey transects. Through these interactive experiences, students systematically built a comprehensive understanding of biodiversity.
The Bureau of Ecological Environment of Jing’an District announced plans to expand Shanghai Fenghua High School’s biodiversity science popularization courses and practical activities to more schools. It aims to establish the “Jing’an District Biodiversity Campus Protection Alliance” and enhance the three-level observation network of “campus-community-park”. This initiative will enable more people to engage in long-term biodiversity monitoring and transition from “ecological observers” to “guardians of Jing’an’s ecosystem”.
Exhibition visit: Journeying through the “urban wilderness” and experiencing the power of ecological protection
After class, teachers and students visited the “Phased Achievements Exhibition of Shanghai’s First Comprehensive Biodiversity Survey” on the B2M floor of the Shanghai Natural History Museum, immersing themselves in the unexpected poetry and depth of this vibrant metropolis. Guided by the guide and invited experts, they followed the exhibition’s path of “Ecological Successes” and “A Brief History of the Survey” to “Phased Achievements” to gain insight into the development of biodiversity conservation in Shanghai.
On the exclusive exhibition wall of Jing’an District, invited experts introduced three core modules: ecosystem, species, and genetic diversity. A key case study was Fudeli Park, which blends modern garden design with Haipai cultural elements into a unique refuge of urban biodiversity through urban renewal. Similarly, the discovery of the butterfly dragonfly in Zhabei Park challenges the notion that “urban areas cannot support ecological diversity” and reflects the transformation of water bodies in Jing’an District from a singular landscape to a multifunctional ecological space.
Additionally, four core traditional practices, including Wang Jia Sha seasonal plant cakes, Leiyunshang traditional Chinese medicine processing techniques, alley window sill flowerbed culture, and old cloth plant dyeing methods, demonstrate a model of ecological inheritance that blends life and art in high-density urban areas. They offer a distinctive Jing’an paradigm for urban biodiversity conservation.
Multi-party collaboration: Leveraging survey results to shape the future of urban ecology
To better understand the city’s biodiversity, Shanghai launched its first comprehensive biodiversity survey in December 2023. Led by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, the survey coordinated municipal and district ecology and environment departments and involved universities, research institutes, and the public. Total participation surpassed 5,000 person-times. Preliminary results have revealed the discovery of two new species and 149 newly recorded species in Shanghai.
Biodiversity is a key indicator of a city’s vitality and sustainable development. It represents the green gene in international metropolises and serves as a valuable urban asset. As the core area of Shanghai’s central urban zone, Jing’an District aims to make “biodiversity conservation in highly urbanized areas” its distinctive approach. The Bureau of Ecological Environment of Jing’an District will deepen and expand its biodiversity survey and conservation efforts, establish a comprehensive and three-dimensional monitoring network, accumulate long-term biodiversity survey data, and explore a unique path for biodiversity conservation in the central urban area.
Moreover, Jing’an District will collaborate with its district-level departments and mobilize resources to roll out a series of science education and public outreach programs. These initiatives are designed to inspire young people to transition from “ecological observers” to “proactive guardians,” thereby inspiring families and communities to value the natural world around them. This represents a shift of “biodiversity conservation” from a “government mandate” into a “broad social movement.” As a result, government agencies will gain a deeper appreciation for the value of ecological protection, students will develop a passion for their local environment, and community residents will become more attentive to the flora and fauna in their midst. These collective efforts are pivotal to advancing Shanghai’s vision of becoming an international metropolis where humanity and nature thrive in harmony”.