Peking University, Nov. 10, 2010: The inauguration ceremony of the National Wetland Conservation and Restoration Technology Center (NWCRTC), which was approved by China's State Forestry Administration, was held at Peking University (PKU) Tan Siu Lin Center for International Studies on Nov. 4.

Chen Shuxian, Vice Director of State Forestry Administration, Ma Guangren, Director of Center for Wetland Management of State Forestry Administration, Prof. Lin Jianhua, Director-General of NWCRTC and Executive Vice President of PKU, and Prof. Chen Shiyi, Vice Director-General of NWCRTC and Dean of PKU College of Engineering attended the opening ceremony.

Chen Shuxian, one of the leading officials of China's State Forestry Administration, and Prof. Lin Jianhua, Executive Vice President of PKU

In the opening ceremony, Chen Shuxian introduced the recent development of wetland in China as well as the tough situation people must face. He pointed out that "through multidisciplinary, multi-sector coordination, and more comprehensive integration of technology joint research, we might find proper theory, techniques and methods to realize the wetland conservation and sustainable use." He also emphasized the need for extensive education and training of talents in this field. He said the establishment of PKU-based NWCRTC was in line with the country's need. "I hope it will make outstanding contributions to national wetland conservation in future," said Chen.

 Chen Shuxian at his speech. 

Then, Ma Guangren presented more information about specific achievements of the wetland conservation and international mechanisms of wetlands management. He also put forward specific requirements for NWCRTC's development. He hoped NWCRTC could systematically research on relevant scientific theory, engineering technology, and implementation schemes of wetland conservation, reconstruction, and sustainable use under the leadership of PKU. NWCRTC should also promote the talents training and the publicity both at home and abroad, and provide related technical and decision support as well to make it a world-level wetland protection and restoration technology platform.

Prof. Lin Jianhua expressed his thanks to the State Forestry Administration's approval for the establishment of NWCRTC in his speech. He pointed out that PKU, as a university with the most comprehensive disciplines in the country, had the solid foundation in wetland relevant disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, ecology, biogeochemistry, hydraulics, environmental science and engineering, economics, law, education, and international relations. He said PKU would organize relevant departments to promote the cooperation of wetlands-related engineering, environmental science and engineering, earth science, humanities, social sciences, and medical disciplines in order to actively coordinate with the State Forestry Administration's work, promote the construction and development of wetland discipline, and make contributions to the construction of the wetland protection and ecological civilization for China.

Prof. Lin Jianhua at his speech.

Prof. Chen Shiyi introduced the achievements of College of Engineering since its establishment at first. Then he pointed out that College of Engineering would make use of its successful experience to support NWCRTC, and facilitate it to become an important think-tanker to provide decision support for the wetland conservation, a base for theoretical research and technology development, a relevant talents' training base, and a publicity base for the implementation of Ramsar Convention in China as well.

The start of "timing ball" for NWCRTC.

Leaders of other NWCRTC co-sponsors including the Chinese Academy of Sciences also addressed in the ceremony, and pledged to actively cooperate with NWCRTC under the agreement.

Translated by: LI Xiaomeng
Edited by: Su Juan
Source: PKU News (Chinese)