Baltimore Ecosystem Study

Baltimore Goes to Beijing

In June 2008, several members of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, Long-Term Ecological Research project participated in the US-China International Workshop on Long-Term Ecological Research in Urban Environments. The delegation representing BES included Project Director Steward Pickett, Co-PIs Dr. Mary Cadenasso and Dr. Christopher Boone, and Post-doctoral Associate Dr. Weiqi Zhou. All US participants are listed in the accompanying box.

Beijing skyline with Imperial Garden in foreground

Photograph: Steward Pickett

US Delegation in China

Photograph: Sainan Zhang

Dr. Christopher Boone, BES and CAP, Arizona State University
Dr. Steward T.A. Pickett, BES, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Dr. Lynne Westphal, USDA Forest Service, Chicago
Dr. Laura Ogden, FCE, Florida International University
Dr. Corinna Gries, CAP, Arizona State University
Dr. M.L. Cadenasso, BES, University of California, Davis

Not pictured: Dr. Jianguo Wu, CAP, Arizona State University
Not pictured: Dr. Weiqi Zhou, BES, University of California, Davis

Urbanization in China has reached an important threshold, with vast shifts in population from rural to urban, and substantial investments in new cities and new infrastructure in existing metropolises. There is great desire on the part of Chinese scientists and officials to ensure that urbanization become more sustainable, which will require both increased local ecological knowledge, and better sharing of information internationally. In both China and America, ecology and urban change can benefit from this international exchange.

The workshop and its associated field trips in Beijing and Dongying were intended to familiarize the Chinese and American participants with urban ecological research in each country, and to explore the potential for future collaboration and interaction. A wealth of data and insights were presented by both American and Chinese participants, and we were especially impressed with the broad foundation of urban ecological research there.

A large number of potential topics for comparison emerged from the discussions during the formal workshop and during the field trips. Field trips visited the Beijing urban field station, and environmentally important sites in and near Dongying City. Dongying is located in the ecologically distinct and oil rich delta of the Yellow River. The meetings in both Beijing and Dongying identified topics for additional discussions that can lead to comparison and collaboration.

We were hosted in Beijing by Prof. Zhiyun Ouyang, Director of the State Key Lab of Urban and Regional Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and in Dongying by Prof Ling Han, of Beijing University. In addition, in Dongying, we met with municipal government officials regarding urban ecology and their “ecocity” initiative. The BES participants are grateful for the support of the Chinese hosts which allowed us to take part in this workshop. We also thank Dr. Zhou who was instrumental in organizing the workshop.