Home> Latest

Hangzhou youth who conduct biological diversity surveys gain fame

ehangzhou.gov.cn| Updated: December 14, 2021 L M S

1.jpg

Members of Yuanxiang attend the NGO Forum of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity on Sept 27. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

A group of young Hangzhou citizens who founded a company named Yuanxiang in 2020 to provide biological diversity survey and counsel services for government departments and enterprises have become famous after they were put in the spotlight by local media.

Located in an office building nearby the Zijin Campus of Zhejiang University, the company currently has four full-time staff members and more than 10 part-time employees.

"Though it hasn't been long since the organization was founded, we have received several requests for biological diversity survey from many government departments in Hangzhou, Zhoushan and Wenling in Zhejiang province over the past year," said Shen Qiu, a member of the organization.

According to Shen, the group recently wrapped up a project in Dongming Mountain in Yuhang district, Hangzhou. The results of the project have been compiled into a book.

The team has also filmed tufted deers, which are under national first-grade protection, as well as paramesotriton chinensis and leopard cats, which are under second-grade protection.

"We have many projects currently in progress, and our part-time employees have provided us with strong support. It is the love for nature that ties us together," said Chen, adding that she studied environmental science and engineering at university and has long been keen on observing nature, especially birds.

Chen Yining, another full-time employee at the organization, once studied biological diversity and protection in the UK, and was a former staff member of the Zhejiang Forest Resources Monitoring Center.

"It is only when we have a good command of what species a city has can we better protect them," Chen said. "We hope to make use of our expertise and offer the government constructive suggestions to better preserve the ecological environment."