Shenyang Normal University (SNU) and the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), Pakistan, recently signed a cooperation agreement to jointly establish an intercollegiate joint laboratory for “ecosystem restoration and sustainable development”, promoting educational cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The School of Life Sciences, SNU has a solid foundation for cooperation with UAF, as they have previously engaged in many collaborative initiatives in academic research, student cultivation, and other areas. UAF, a renowned and long-established institution in Pakistan, has long been committed to the transformation of scientific and technological research results based on its disciplinary advantages. Experts and scholars from UAF have made several visits to the School of Life Sciences at SNU, to learn the distinctive disciplinary characteristics and research accomplishments of the School. Against the backdrop of global advocacy for sustained ecosystem restoration, the two universities have decided to jointly establish a laboratory for “ecosystem restoration and sustainable development” to promote the sustainable development of ecosystems.

As climate change and the impacts of human activities continue to intensify, the degree and risk of global ecosystem degradation are continuously rising. Protecting the ecological environment, restoring ecological balance, and achieving sustainable development of ecosystems are important challenges facing the world today. The intercollegiate joint laboratory for “ecosystem restoration and sustainable development” aims to innovate research and development of key technologies for ecosystem restoration and conduct research on biodiversity conservation and ecological security.

In the future, SNU and UAF will organize bilateral academic conferences and carry out in-depth cooperation in areas including education, science and technology, and culture.