Written by: Li Zhuang
Who We Are
The Yangtze River Delta Ecological Restoration Network (YRDERN) is a group of researchers, practitioners, and citizens dedicated to improving ecological restoration in one of China’s most populated and industrially developed areas, the Yangtze River Delta.
Established in 2024, YRDERN was founded in response to a growing realization. Ecological restoration efforts in the Yangtze River Delta have accelerated in recent years, yet the field remains fragmented and underdeveloped. Researchers, seed suppliers, landscape architects, policymakers, and practitioners often work in isolation, with limited coordination or shared standards. YRDERN was created to bridge these gaps by bringing together key stakeholders to foster a more integrated, locally informed approach to ecological restoration.
YRDERN Co-founder Bingqin Shan speaks at Shanghai Climate Week, sharing insights on native plant supply chains for ecological restoration.
Our Mission
Our vision is to help restore vibrant, resilient ecosystems across the Yangtze River Delta. We are committed to strengthening local knowledge, rebuilding native plant communities, and connecting people who care about the land. We believe that ecological restoration is not just a technical task, but a collective effort that requires shared learning, open dialogue, and cooperation.
Why We Start: Toward a More Connected Approach to Restoration
The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) is one of China's most economically developed regions, home to over 220 million people and a hub of urban growth and industrial development. But beneath this prosperity lies a fragmented and vulnerable ecological foundation.
Wetlands are degraded. Native plant communities have been replaced by simplified monocultures. Rivers are heavily engineered, and much of the urban greening lacks ecological function. While ecological restoration is now a national priority in China, practical progress in the YRD has been slow and uneven.
In this region, restoration faces multiple structural challenges:
● Native plant supply chains remain poorly developed and fragmented
● Scientific knowledge is rarely integrated into project planning and execution
● Public engagement and long-term site stewardship are minimal
● Technical standards and evaluation benchmarks are lacking
● Stakeholders across disciplines and sectors have few opportunities to collaborate meaningfully
We are here to address this gap.
What We Do
YRDERN acts as both a knowledge hub and a collaboration platform, serving those working at the intersection of ecology, land management, design, horticulture, and community action.
Translating Knowledge into Local Practice
We translate key ecological restoration research from around the world into Chinese, making scientific concepts more accessible to practitioners. At the same time, we document lessons from local projects and co-develop practical guidance grounded in real-world conditions.
Topics include:
● Native seed supply chain
● Plant community dynamics and ecological succession
● Species selection for functional and resilient landscapes
● Soil and hydrology considerations in degraded habitats
● Biotope-based site planning and evaluation frameworks
Sharing Insights and Building Dialogue
We regularly host knowledge exchange activities, both online and in person. Through these events, we bring together scientists, designers, nursery professionals, NGOs, and public-sector actors into discussion.
Topics include:
● Technical challenges and solutions in restoration projects
● Case studies, both successful and failed
● Policy trends and implementation bottlenecks
● New ideas from international practice and research
Supporting Community-Led Restoration Projects
YRDERN serves as a connector for those launching or supporting ecological restoration initiatives. Within our network, members collaborate on:
● Project planning and design
● Sourcing native plant material and conducting field trials
● Monitoring site development and adapting practices over time
● Mentoring younger professionals and supporting capacity building in the field
By fostering trust and coordination among diverse actors, we aim to create more consistent, ecologically grounded outcomes across the region.
Where We’re Headed
We believe the future of ecological restoration in the Yangtze River Delta depends on better relationships between theories and practices, between cities and nature, and among people who care about the land.
YRDERN is still young, but it is growing through collaboration, curiosity, and commitment to place. We welcome connections with peers around the world, whether you are a researcher, practitioner, educator, or policymaker. If you want to learn more or get in touch, please contact Bingqin Shan (the_restor@163.com)
