Festival highlights university’s commitment to green future

Crowds of curious, excited students from the Beijing Forestry University (BFU) bustled at its Ginko Avenue on June 11 to celebrate the school’s second International Culture Festival.

International students from countries including Madagascar, Ethiopia and DPR Korea, kicked off the festival with their traditional song and dance. People buzzed in front of various stalls, manned by foreign students each representing their country, eager to learn about different cultures, sample exotic snacks, and shop for souvenirs.

Aside from celebrating the school’s diverse groups and cultures, the festival, themed “Green Illuminates the World, Harmony Unites Us All”, highlighted the university’s commitment to building a green, sustainable future and mobilizing youths to achieve global sustainability.

During the opening, the university announced the establishment of the “Echo Earth” Lecture Group within its International College, comprising PhD and master’s students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Beijing Forestry University establishes the “Echo Earth” Lecture Group within its International College, on June 11, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

“‘Echo Earth’ symbolizes the resonance of Earth’s ecosystems and human civilizations. This group will promote ecological values through lectures to create a global network for sustainable solutions,” said Wang Jin, dean of the university’s International College.

Bizhar Titab, a PhD student from the Kurdistan region of Iraq, is a member of the lecture group.

“This role aligns with my belief that scientists should actively communicate knowledge to the public. My responsibility is to translate complex ecological concepts into accessible insights, inspiring others to protect our planet. It’s a chance for me to bridge academia and societal action, which I find both exciting and humbling,” he told the China Daily website.

On the evening of June 11, Titab and four fellow students from Russia, Japan, Bangladesh and Morocco, presented their first lecture at the university together with members from the Green Pioneers Doctoral Students’ Lecturer League and Eco-Art Advocates, two other active ecology promotion groups at BFU.

The young lecturers shared multidimensional practices of ecological civilization, covering a wide range of topics, such as the transition to a green economy, species conservation efforts, wetland ecology science education, the challenges of plastic pollution, and international cooperation in green development.

Bizhar Titab gives a lecture as a member of the “Echo Earth” Lecture Group at Beijing Forestry University, on June 11, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The launch of the “Echo Earth” Lecture Group, the international part of the BFU Eco-Civilization Doctoral Students’ Lecturer League, speaks volumes about the university’s long-standing commitment to promoting environmental awareness and building China’s ecological civilization, according to the organizers.

Founded in 2012, the award-winning BFU Eco-Civilization Doctoral Students’ Lecturer League has organized more than 800 public lectures across the country. Led by approximately 300 PhD students, particularly those specializing in forestry, landscape architecture, and soil and water conservation, these lectures have been held in primary and secondary schools, universities, communities and companies.

“As an international member, I hope to contribute a global perspective to the group by sharing examples of environmental challenges and solutions from my home country while learning from China’s ecological initiatives such as the Green Wall project,” Titab said, adding that he would love to organize multilingual outreach activities to engage more international students in ecological advocacy.

Students read out the Migratory Bird Protection Initiative at the second International Culture Festival of Beijing Forestry University, on June 11, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Another highlight of the festival was the Migratory Bird Protection Initiative, read out by a group of students, urging youths worldwide to take action to protect migratory birds and their habitats.

The initiative stems from the Flyways University Alliance and the Global Scientific Action Plan for Migratory Bird Flyway Conservation. Both launched by BFU in October 2024 during the Global Ecological Governance (Nansen) Conference held in Beijing, the alliance aims to enhance collaboration between universities and research institutes in flyway countries while strengthening knowledge-sharing and conservation efforts along migratory routes.

Sony Lama, a Nepali student who is pursuing her master’s degree in nature reserve science, was one of the students who presented the initiative. “The initiative to protect migratory birds is essential, as these species face numerous threats, including habitat loss, climate change, and illegal poaching,” Lama said.

Nepali student Sony Lama in graduation cap and gown [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

“Bird conservation is a cause very close to my heart. In Nepal, I have conducted research on avian species and actively participated in conservation projects,” she told this website, adding that it was an honor because it aligns with her lifelong commitment to wildlife protection.

Before coming to Beijing to do her master’s at BFU, Lama worked at Red Panda Network, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation of red pandas and other sympatric species.

Lama, who had taken 14.5 credits more than what is required for her master’s program, acknowledged the interdisciplinary approach of her study at BFU. “It has equipped me with practical knowledge that will be instrumental in my conservation work in Nepal,” she stated.

“After graduation, I intend to return to Nepal to resume my previous job. The exposure to China’s conservation methodologies, advanced ecological research, and policy frameworks has broadened my perspective, allowing me to develop innovative and effective strategies to implement back home,” she said.

 

Students have fun at the second International Culture Festival of Beijing Forestry University, on June 11, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

 

Students have fun at the second International Culture Festival of Beijing Forestry University, on June 11, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

People visit different stalls at the second International Culture Festival of Beijing Forestry University, on June 11, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Students have fun at the second International Culture Festival of Beijing Forestry University, on June 11, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]