The world observed the International Day of Forests on March 21 – a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about the importance of forests and to promote sustainable forest management practices.
This year's theme – Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World – highlighted the crucial role of innovation in protecting and preserving our forests and East China's Shanghai, for one, joined in the celebrations with gusto.
In line with the theme of innovation, forest management practices have evolved significantly in recent years. The folks at Shanghai Songjiang Forest Farm, for example, have embraced digital technologies to enhance its management efforts.
The farm is a fully funded public institution tasked with managing and protecting the nine peaks and 12 mountains in the Sheshan National Tourist Resort – located in the Songjiang district of Shanghai – as well as overseeing four open parks: West Sheshan, East Sheshan, Tianma Mountain and Small Kunshan Mountain.
Utilizing digital platforms and intelligent forest fires early warning systems, they've made forest monitoring more efficient and precise. What's more, by applying Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, to manage forest resource data, they can track and report forest conditions effectively.
At end-2023, Shanghai Songjiang Forest Farm boasted a forest coverage rate of 80.35 percent, with a total forest area of 214.96 hectares.
Their efforts are widely said to not only contribute to the conservation of local forest resources, but also serve as a model for intelligent forest management practices.
