The Temple of Heaven conservation project submitted by the School of Landscape Architecture at Beijing Forestry University has been selected for the 2026 World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) initiative "Working on the Future", announced recently by UNESCO. It is one of only nine selected projects from China. 

The project, titled "The Ancient Trees of the Temple of Heaven: Youth Action for Conservation & Transition" focuses on ancient tree protection, ecological education, visitor carrying capacity, and heritage value dissemination at the Temple of Heaven, a World Heritage site which preserves a large community of ancient trees and rich urban ecological resources. It explores an integrated conservation pathway linking historical landscapes, ecosystems, and public engagement. The team is led by master's student Sun Yueheng and Duan Chao from the Temple of Heaven Park Management Office, with Associate Professor Wang Zhongjun serving as academic advisor. 

The initiative combines heritage conservation research with public participation. In ancient tree conservation, it addresses habitat conditions, root‑zone environments, and health status, transforming ancient trees into “living heritage” that connects memory, ecology, and public understanding. In ecological education, it designs activities around the site's plant resources to make ecological knowledge accessible. In visitor management, it investigates visitor flow and carrying capacity to support sustainable management of this open heritage site. 

Written by Sun Yueheng
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang