Prof. ZHANG Yaping (CAS member), chairman of the Chinese National Committee for Man and the Biosphere (MAB), visited the Xiangxi River Ecosystem Experimental Station in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region on November 22, 2024. (Credit: IHB)

On November 22, 2024, Prof. ZHANG Yaping (CAS member), chairman of the Chinese National Committee for Man and the Biosphere (MAB), led a delegation to the Xiangxi River Ecosystem Experimental Station in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region. The visit aimed to strengthen the station's role in supporting the conservation of the Yangtze River and advancing watershed ecological research. 

The delegation included officials from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and local government representatives. They were welcomed by leaders from the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), who provided an overview of the station's operations and highlighted key achievements in platform development. Research findings on ecological challenges, including small hydropower development and algal blooms within the watershed, were also presented. 

Prof. Zhang commended the station's contributions to the Three Gorges Reservoir area. He emphasized the importance of leveraging the station's strengths to support ecological initiatives in the region, aligning with national strategies for Yangtze River conservation. Zhang also advocated for infrastructure improvements to attract both domestic and international researchers, aiming to establish the station as a leading base for small watershed ecological and environmental research in China. 

The Xiangxi River Ecosystem Experimental Station plays a crucial role in implementing ecological civilization in China and constructing a community of shared life formed by mountains, rivers, forests, lands, lakes, and grass.

Prof. ZHANG Yaping (CAS member), chairman of the Chinese National Committee for Man and the Biosphere (MAB), visited the Xiangxi River Ecosystem Experimental Station in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region on November 22, 2024. (Credit: IHB)