IN-CONFERENCE EXCURSION

A minimum of 20 people is required to start the group.

Route 1: Managing Forest Resources for Drinking Water supply in Miyun Reservoir for Beijing

The Miyun Reservoir in Beijing covers an area of 180 square kilometers, with a storage capacity of 4 billion cubic meters and an average water depth of 30 meters. It is fed by two major rivers, the Baihe and the Chaohe, and is the largest reservoir in North China. The catchment area of the Miyun Reservoir is characterized by a warm temperate monsoon-type continental semi-humid and semi-arid climate, with marked variations in drought, cold, and warmth. The long-term average temperature ranges from 9 to 10°C, and the long-term average precipitation is approximately 479.37 mm. The vegetation in the basin is primarily composed of natural secondary forests and artificial forests, with natural secondary forests dominated by broad-leaved mixed forests. In terms of forest protection and water conservation, a pilot demonstration project for national land greening around the Miyun Reservoir has been implemented, improving and enhancing the quality of 120,000 mu of forest. The forest resources in the area have accumulated to 5.6989 million cubic meters. The forest coverage rate across the region is 69.72%, making the water quality and quantity the best in the city, with the largest wetland area, the best air quality, and the highest value of ecosystem regulation services in the city.

The Liulihe Xitaizi Experimental Watershed in Huairou, Beijing(116°37′E, 40°32′N), is located in the upstream source area of the MiyunReservoir, covering an area of 4.22 square kilometers. It is characterized by typical forested land in the hilly and mountainous regions of North China. The primary land use type is forest, with forested land accounting for 98% of thetotal area of the study region. The main vegetation types include deciduous broad-leaved forests, mixed broad leaved and coniferous forests, and coniferous forests, with understory vegetation   primarily consisting of shrubs and low-growing plants.

The experimental watershed is equipped with four automaticmeteorological stations, a 30 meter flux observation tower, four experimentalobservation slopes, a flow measurement weir, a layered runoff monitoring systemfor slopes, and the Xitaizi Experimental Base. Various hydrological observation instruments have been installed, including an eddy covariance system, large aperture scintillometer, gradient observation system, stemflow meters, groundwater level observation wells, and soil moisture observation profiles. Additionally, several water chemistry and isotope sampling and monitoring points have been set up for periodic sampling.

Currently, the primary research activities in the experimental watershed focus on multi-scale evapotranspiration studies, as well as investigations into rainfall-runoff mechanisms in the watershed and on slopes.

Route 2: Forest healthmanagement in Badaling Forest Farm: managing multiple ecosystem services andfunctions

The Badaling Forest Farm, located in Yanqing County, Beijing, is 60 kilometersfrom the city center. It lies between the major passes of the GreatWall—Juyongguan and Badaling—and is situated at the junction of the Yanshan andTaihang Mountain ranges. As an integral part of the third green barrier of thecapital, it plays a crucial role in water conservation, ecological protection,and tourism.

The forest farm is home to the largest area of native Syringa reticulata(Manchurian lilac) forests in North China, with 549 plant species and 158animal species. The greening rate of the forested area reaches 95.89%, and theforest coverage rate is 56.98%. It is the first ecological public welfareforest area in China to receive FSC international certification and is one ofthe most complete and typical regions in Beijing in terms of vertical forestdistribution. The climate is a northern temperate, semi-humid continentalmonsoon climate, characterized by hot and rainy summers, cold and dry winters,and uneven seasonal distribution of precipitation, with 80% of the annualrainfall occurring during the summer months of June, July, and August.

Route 3：Wenyuhe Urban Forest Parks

As the largest "green lung" of Beijing, this urban park integrates cultural exchange, outdoor activities, and a nature-friendly, high-quality, and internationalized urban ecological leisure environment. The park adheres to the concept of "ecology, life, vitality," and has been developed in phases with meticulous attention to detail, emphasizing natural ecology. Nearly 90% of the plants within the park are native species, with a significant presence of food-source and nectar-source plants, as well as drought-resistant and long-lived species. The park is abundantly planted with Chinese scholar trees, Chinese parasol trees, tulip trees, ash trees, and others, achieving "flowers in three seasons, greenery in all four seasons."

A 1.4 square kilometer ecological conservation area has been designated and managed with restricted access, preserving a section of "primary forest" to allow for natural succession, providing a habitat for birds, insects, and animals. As a result, the park has made significant progress in biodiversity conservation. Early ecological monitoring has already identified several rare species, including the Chinese merganser, great bustard, Baer's pochard, oriental stork, Zacco platypus, and wild soybean, among others.

The experimental watershed is equipped with four automatic meteorological stations, a 30-meter flux observation tower, four experimental observation slopes, a flow measurement weir, a layered runoff monitoring system for slopes, and the Xitaizi Experimental Base. Various hydrological observation instruments have been installed, including an eddy covariance system, large aperture scintillometer, gradient observation system, stemflow meters, groundwater level observation wells, and soil moisture observation profiles. Additionally, several water chemistry and isotope sampling and monitoring points have been set up for periodic sampling.

Currently, the primary research activities in the experimental watershed focus on multi-scale evapotranspiration studies, as well as investigations into rainfall-runoff mechanisms in the watershed and on slopes.

POST CONFERENCE TOUR

A minimum of 20 people is required to start the group.

Route 1 The Shanxi Jixian National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station for Forest Ecosystems and Hukou Waterfall

The Shanxi Jixian National Field Scientific Observation and ResearchStation for Forest Ecosystems was established in 1986, specializing in soil and water conservation and desertification prevention. It is designated as a National Field Observation and Research Station for Ecology and Environment, making it one of the 15 forest stations among the 52 national-level ecological and environmental field observation stations in China. The station covers abase area of 100 km².

The field station is well-equipped with research facilities and instruments, along with suitable living conditions, making it a permanent experimental base for monitoring and evaluating the benefits of forestry ecological projects, afforestation, forest hydrology, and mountain management techniques.

Route 2: Sichuan Wolong Subalpine Dark Coniferous Forest Ecosystem Research Station and Miyaluo Grand Canyon

The "Sichuan Wolong Subalpine Dark Coniferous Forest Ecosystem Research Station," part of the China Forest Ecosystem Research Network (CFERN)under the State Forestry Administration, is located in Miyaluo Town, Lixian County, Sichuan Province. The station includes the Miyaluomain station, Bipenggou substation, and Shiduo substation, with elevations ranging from 2,500 to 5,000meters. The area features alpine canyon terrain and represents a typical distribution zone of alpine and subalpine forests.

The research station primarily focuses on the original coniferous forests, the birch broad-leaved forests formed after logging, and the birch-fir-spruce mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests. Key research areas include hydrological monitoring, soil moisture,soil physical and chemical properties, forest species composition, meteorological factors, tree radial growth, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and carbon cycling.

The station has established several significant research plots:

The fixed monitoring plot for the original Minjiang fir dark coniferous forest, covering 9.6 hectares, is currently the highest-altitude forest research plot in China, along with dozens of satellite plots along the elevation gradient.

A total of 121 long-term fixed monitoring plots (20m ×20m) have been set up on typical logged sites according to their recovery sequence.

Demonstration plots for the transformation and functional enhancement of spruce plantations at different afforestation stages have also been established.

The Miyaluo Minjiang Grand Canyon is composed of the Zagunao River Valley and theMinjiang River Valley, located within the boundaries of Lixian, Wenchuan, andMaoxian Counties. It is a region predominantly inhabited by the Qiang ethnicminority. The canyon covers a vast area with numerous scenic spots, and its elevationis approximately 3,000 meters. The winter climate is cold, with averagetemperatures around -10°C, while the summer is relatively cool, with averagetemperatures around 15°C.

Hukou Waterfall is located in the southern section of the Qin-Jin Gorge and is the second largest waterfall in China as well as the largest yellow waterfall in the world. Upstream of the waterfall, the Yellow River spans 300 meters in width, but within a distance of less than 500 meters, it is compressed to a width of just 20 to 30 meters. With a flow rate of 1,000 m³ s^-1, the river plunges from a steep cliff over 20 meters high.