The Chinese Society of Forestry has recently announced the selection of Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve Administration and Qingshanhu National Forest Park Administration as the fourth batch of national nature education bases.

Nature education is an effective approach for individuals to gain knowledge and appreciation of the natural world. The Zhejiang Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve serves as a hub for nature education, located in the Lin’an District of Hangzhou in northwest Zhejiang Province. The reserve covers a total area of 11,252 hectares, which includes three main sections: Longtang Mountain, Qianqingtang, and Shunxiwu. Within this area, there are both indoor and outdoor facilities dedicated to nature education, including the Qingliangfeng Field Museum, Qingliangfeng Botanical Garden, Qingliangfeng Science and Technology Museum, and Biodiversity Exhibition Hall. It is set to be recognized as one of the Zhejiang Nature Education Bases in 2021.

Since the inception of nature education, the Qingliangfeng Nature Education Base (School) has designed and implemented a series of nature education programs, including “Deer Tracing Adventure”, “Exploring the Stone Forest in Longtang”, “Embracing Nature, Creating Nature Notes”, “Bird Knowledge Challenge, providing a Home for Birds” and “Wildlife Conservation - Creating Popular Science Plays”. These courses have been conducted more than ten times.

Qingshanhu National Forest Park is located in the east of the Lin’an District and boasts a forest coverage rate of 82.2%. It encompasses diverse landforms, including low mountains, high hills, basins, and bodies of water, creating a rich habitat for wildlife. In recent years, the park has actively pursued popular science education for children in line with the policy of “easing the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring for students undergoing compulsory education”. Leveraging the unique resources of Qingshanhu Lake’s birds, insects, plants, and more, a series of enlightening public welfare courses called “Exploring Mysteries” have been developed. These courses cover captivating themes such as “The Way Plants Survive”, “Discovering Night Elves”, “Fruits of Qingshanhu National Forest Park in Winter” and “Unraveling Autumn’s Secrets”. Currently, 14 public welfare courses of popular science have been offered, attracting over 2,000 participants. Emphasizing experiential learning and catering to individuals of all ages, these activities have garnered significant social influence. Collaborations with natural education institutions like “Zhejiang Mountains and Plains” and “Earth” have resulted in the production of over 10 popular science works annually, thereby establishing a robust curriculum system for natural education.