Beijing Launches Biodiversity Awareness CampaignThe Chinese capital Beijing has launched a massive campaign to increase its residents' awareness of biodiversity and harmonious co-existence of mankind and nature.The city's leading parks and gardens have organized 40 activities and tens of thousands of Beijing residents took part in such activities. The Beijing Zoo, for instance, invited some primary and middle school students to work a whole day as a zoo keeper, while the city's research institute of gardening has opened its laboratories to visitors. The campaign also features various lectures by prominent scientists and online publicity of knowledge about biodiversity. "Biodiversity is no longer an abstract technical jargon to most citizens as a result of the awareness campaign, and people here have come to know the far-reaching benefits of harmonious co-existence of mankind and nature," said a scientist working at the Temple of Heaven Park. Beijing has stepped up its effort to protect biodiversity in recent years and has since organized various specialized scientific research to protect endangered species through artificial breeding. The Beijing Zoo, as a result of the intensified protection effort, is already home to more than 400 animals of 60 species under first-class state protection, and the Beijing Botanical Garden has grown nearly 100 species of plants under state protection. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |