The 2024 Spring Workshop on Forest Ecosystems was recently hosted at Beijng Forestry University. Vice President Li Xiong attended and delivered an opening speech. The workshop saw participation from over 130 experts and scholars from 48 institutions worldwide, including Liu Shirong, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The head of BFU Social Services and Integrated Research Office presided over the workshop.

Li Xiong extended a warm welcome to the scholars and delegates from around the world participating in the workshop. He highlighted that since its founding in 1952, Beijing Forestry University has been adhering to the educational philosophy of "Championship in Earth Stewardship, Leadership in Forestry Education" , contributing significantly to nation's ecological civilization and socio-economic development.

As a premier institution focused on forestry, BFU has cultivated a unique and prestigious academic discipline ecosystem over its 70 years of innovative growth. This robust scholarly foundation has catalyzed the proliferation of various university publications. Li underscored the importance of high-quality journals in propagating significant scientific breakthroughs and accomplishments, acting as a barometer for a nation's technological advancement. In recent years, BFU has been dedicated to augmenting its portfolio of academic journals as part of its trajectory towards becoming a world-class university, increasingly concentrating on the establishment and sustenance of top-tier academic publications. Progressing forward, BFU is determined to further bolster the development of its academic journals, providing platforms for scholarly dialogue and highlighting research accomplishments. He voiced an aspiration for sustained intellectual discourse among distinguished global academics, anticipating that such interactions will yield valuable perspectives and incite intellectual innovation.

During the conference, Li Xiong presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Klaus von Gadow, the former editor-in-chief of BFU’s English journal Forest Ecosystems. He expressed sincere gratitude for Professor von Gadow's substantial support of BFU. Professor von Gadow served as editor-in-chief from the journal's inception in 2014 until his retirement in 2022. He has been a steadfast advocate for the journal's development, witnessing and contributing significantly to its growth and success.

In the keynote session, 9 experts and scholars from universities across 7 countries, including the University of New Brunswick (Canada), the University of New Hampshire (USA), the University of Melbourne (Australia), Seoul National University (South Korea), the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, the University of Freiburg (Germany), as well as Peking University, Wuhan University, and Beijing Forestry University, delivered presentations. They addressed topics such as forest biodiversity, forest structure, and ecosystem services and functions, and the discussions spanned from theoretical to practical applications, covering field measurements, remote sensing observations, and studies from aboveground to belowground components. Together, they explored and shared the latest research findings and emerging trends in forest ecology.

The Q&A session was lively, with attendees eagerly posing questions and sharing their viewpoints, engaging in fruitful dialogues with the speakers. This interaction not only enhanced the attendees' comprehension of the presentations but also provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with renowned scholars from around the world, thereby stimulating the exchange of academic ideas. After the conference, the experts visited the Baotianman National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station in Henan, where they conducted field research and engaged in a seminar on the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems and adaptive management strategies.

Hosted by Beijing Forestry University and executed by the Editorial Department of the University Journal, the seminar was a collaborative endeavor involving the Social Services and Integrated Research Office, Development and Planning Office, Science and Technology Office, Graduate School, and Office for International Relations. The event was broadcast live on Ke'ai and Kouxiang platforms, garnering a total online audience of 7,426 viewers.

Written by Li Yawen, Li Hui
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang