From October 27th to 30th, 2023, the "22nd Chinese Ecological Society Congress and the 11th Member Representative Conference of the Chinese Ecological Society", sponsored by the Chinese Ecological Society and undertaken by the Research Center for Eco - Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, was successfully held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. Nearly 3,000 academic researchers in the field of ecology from more than 600 universities and scientific research institutes in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across the country participated in this conference. The participating experts, based on national needs, carried out in - depth academic exchanges and discussions on issues such as the development of the discipline of ecology, the construction of ecological civilization and sustainable development, the functions and services of ecosystems, and biodiversity and ecosystem protection. Academician Guo Huadong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Shao Ming'an of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Yu Guirui of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Piao Shilong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Luo Hui, a member of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the China Association for Science and Technology, Ouyang Zhiyun, the Chairman of the Chinese Ecological Society, Fang Zizheng, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Research Center for Eco - Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and leaders of other relevant units attended the opening ceremony of this conference. Ten scientists including Guo Huadong and Chen Baodong delivered invited reports at the conference, such as "Big Data Assessment and Reflection on the Sustainable Development Goals in the Field of Ecological Environment" and "The Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Ecological Restoration of Degraded Soils".

This conference organized 45 special sub - venues, such as "11. Ecotourism and Sustainable Development", and 2 special forums, namely "Forum 01. Research, Practice and Innovation of Ecological Science Popularization" and "Forum 02. The 3rd Young Talent Support Forum of the Chinese Ecological Society". A total of 635 academic reports, 164 academic posters were arranged, and 1,065 electronic abstracts were included. During the conference, exhibitions of equipment, books, journals and important scientific research achievements related to ecological research were also held.

Yang Xiaoju, an associate research librarian of the Dunhuang Academy, participated in the postgraduate forum of the sub - venue "13. Soil Ecological Processes and Biological Soil Crusts", and submitted an abstract of the conference paper titled "Research Status and Hotspot Analysis of Biological Soil Crusts Based on Bibliometrics". She also discussed and exchanged with well - known domestic experts in biological soil crust research on key scientific and technological hot issues in site protection, such as whether it is possible to draw on the successful experience of wind prevention and sand fixation, isolate and cultivate species resources from rock and soil cultural relics in different habitats that can enhance the wind and rain erosion resistance of the surface of cultural relics, and use the colonization of biological crusts to reduce or inhibit the weathering of the surface of cultural relics, as well as how to form a complete implementation process and a complete evaluation system of the impact on ecosystem health under the premise of conforming to the principles of cultural relics protection. The aim is to provide guidance for the exploration of new materials and the research and development of new technologies for the scientific and technological protection of rock and soil cultural relics.

(Text/Picture: YANG Xiaoju)