On July 6, the 2024 annual meeting of the National Innovation Alliance for Forest and Grassland Fire Prevention Technology, under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, was successfully held in Meeting Room 116 of the Forestry Science Research Building at NEFU. Nearly 100 representatives from over 50 government departments, universities, research institutes, and enterprises attended the meeting, which was presided over by Professor Yang Guang, Vice President of the Alliance and a professor at the School of Forestry.

In 2018, with approval from the Science and Technology Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, NEFU spearheaded the establishment of the National Innovation Alliance for Forest and Grassland Fire Prevention Technology. This alliance was formed with the Chinese Academy of Forestry’s Forest Environment and Protection Institute, Beijing Forestry University, Harbin Xinguang Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd., and other universities, research institutes, and enterprises. The alliance aims to address significant challenges in forest and grassland fire prevention in China and to overcome critical technological hurdles in this field. Since its inception, the coalition has made significant strides in understanding the interaction mechanisms between forest fires and forest ecosystems, developing critical technologies for forest fire early warning and monitoring, and creating a national-level forest and grassland fire early warning and prevention system. These achievements have been demonstrated and applied in various agencies, including the Ministry of Emergency Management, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and critical forest regions in Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Yunnan, and Fujian, resulting in substantial economic and ecological benefits.

At the 2024 annual meeting, Vice President Yu Haipeng delivered a welcome address, introducing the basic situation of NEFU and the forest fire management research team. He emphasized that our university, as the chair unit of the alliance, will continue to provide comprehensive support and guarantees for the alliance’s work.

Professor Sun Long, the alliance chairman, reported on behalf of the first council on team and technology platform construction, landmark achievements and their demonstration, think tank services and cooperation exchanges, talent training and results, and the alliance’s next steps in addressing national and local forest and grassland fire prevention needs.

Two invited experts and representatives from 12 alliance member units delivered academic and technical exchange reports at the meeting.

To the alliance’s charter and development needs, the first council reviewed and approved the “Revised Charter of the Innovation Alliance,” the “Proposed List of Members for the Second Council of the Innovation Alliance,” and the “Proposed List of Members for the Expert Committee of the Innovation Alliance.”

Deputy Director Song Guozhong of the Heilongjiang Provincial Forestry and Grassland Administration attended the meeting and delivered a speech, recognizing the province’s achievements in forest and grassland fire prevention and expressing hope that the alliance will continue to play a leading role in promoting technological exchange and innovation.