Flyway University Alliance
Opening Ceremony
The first international student summer camp of the “International Science and Flyway University Alliance (FUA)”, a project of the UNESCO International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development (2024-2033) , was successfully held at our school. It was funded by the China Scholarship Council of the Ministry of Education, organized by the International Exchange and Cooperation Office and the International College of Beijing Forestry University, and hosted by the School of Ecology and Conservation.
The summer camp lasts for 15 days and will recruit 20 students from universities and research institutions in the five member states of the alliance: South Korea, Mongolia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
Themed “Bonds on the Migration Road”, this summer camp focuses on the protection of wildlife and their habitats, especially the protection of migratory birds in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway (EAAF). It will jointly discuss topics such as global biodiversity protection, ecological civilization construction and sustainable development. At the same time, it also pays attention to the dissemination of China’s excellent traditional culture and the exchange and mutual learning between different civilizations, and strives to create three distinctive sections: “Academic Hall”, “Practical Knowledge” and “Cultural Feast”.
In the “Academic Hall” section, experts and scholars from the School of Ecology and Nature Conservation gave the campers 9 high-level academic reports , covering the construction of national parks and nature reserves in China, the protection of waterbirds and migratory areas in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, bird ecology and behavior research, the ecology and protection of giant panda habitats, and China’s protected plants and their utilization, etc., fully demonstrating China’s successful cases and experiences in biodiversity conservation and ecological construction, as well as China’s responsibility as a responsible major country in jointly building a global green ecological civilization.
In the “Practical Knowledge” section, campers visited the United Nations Agency for International Development (UNDP) China Office for a discussion on biodiversity conservation with representatives and experts. This discussion helped them understand the working mechanisms and content of international organizations, further inspiring their passion for biodiversity conservation and ecological development. At Handan Ecological Park, campers experienced firsthand how China’s ecological civilization efforts are integrated with its rich history and culture. A visit to the school museum and history museum provided a comprehensive understanding of our school’s long-standing contributions and achievements in forestry and ecological development.
In the “Cultural Feast” section, teachers from the International College, School of Foreign Languages, and School of Art and Design led campers in learning about China’s dynastic history and the culture of Chinese characters, experiencing the charm of calligraphy and the exquisite craftsmanship of lacquer fan painting. Campers also visited the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Badaling Great Wall, gaining a deeper understanding of China’s long history and culture and magnificent traditional architecture.
The summer camp was rich in content and distinctive in its features. At the opening ceremony, participants from various countries were divided into four groups, each assigned to four thematic topics: Synergy between Waterbird Conservation and Wetland Ecology in Migratory Flyways; Cultural Heritage and Ecological Conservation in China; Technology Application and Community Engagement in Flagship Species Conservation; and Systems Thinking and Global Perspectives in Biodiversity Conservation. At the closing ceremony, each group presented their field trips and academic achievements during the camp. Representatives of the instructors provided comments, and certificates and souvenirs were presented.
The successful international student summer camp established an international exchange platform for students from various countries in the field of ecological conservation, enhanced the university’s internationalization, and promoted China’s ecological civilization development philosophy and excellent traditional culture. Going forward, the “International Flyway Science and Education Alliance” will continue to implement its mission and functions, organizing various learning and seminar activities to promote exchanges and interactions between researchers and young students from member countries, striving to promote migratory bird conservation in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and deeply participating in global ecological governance.
