From November 14 to 16, 2025, the 1st National Symposium on Forest and Grassland Carbon Cycle and Carbon Sink Assessment was held at Northeast Forestry University (NEFU), with over 300 experts and scholars from more than 50 universities and research institutes across China attending. The symposium highlighted the latest research progress in carbon cycle and carbon sink assessment for forest and grassland ecosystems in China, promoting academic exchanges and collaboration across regions and disciplines. It established a strong foundation to enhance the carbon sink functions of forest and grassland ecosystems and to support the implementation of China’s “Dual Carbon” goals.

The conference was jointly hosted by NEFU's Carbon Neutral Technology Innovation Research Institute, the Heilongjiang Forestry Technology Service Center, the National Key Laboratory of Conservation and Restoration of Cold-Temperate Forest Ecosystems under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the Professional Committee of the Ecological Society of China, and NEFU’s School of Ecology. NEFU’s Vice President Li Mingze, Deputy Director Shao Weigeng of the Heilongjiang Forestry and Grassland Administration, and Academician Yu Guirui, President of the Ecological Society of China, attended the opening ceremony. The conference was hosted by Professor He Nianpeng, director of NEFU’s Carbon Neutral Technology Innovation Research Institute.

Vice President Li Mingze highlighted NEFU’s research achievements in the forest ecosystem carbon cycle and carbon sink assessment. He stressed that NEFU continues to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and international partnerships, contributing to the development of an ecological civilization with “NEFU wisdom” and “NEFU strength.” Deputy Director Shao Weigeng shared updates on the progress of carbon sink projects in Heilongjiang Province. He expressed optimism that the symposium would support the high-quality growth of the forest and grassland sectors. Professor Zhou Xuhui, Dean of NEFU’s School of Ecology, outlined the college’s development goals and invited young scholars to join and explore new frontiers in carbon sink research.

The conference featured an invited report session and three sub-sessions centered on the theme of “Carbon Cycle Process and Carbon Sink Assessment in Forest and Grassland Ecosystems”. Academician Yu Guirui, Professor Zhou Guoyi, and other experts delivered keynote reports at the main session. The sub-sessions covered topics such as carbon cycle theory and monitoring, carbon sink enhancement and emission reduction technology pathways, and carbon balance and value realization, offering new ideas for related research.