A nature education initiative in Haishu district, Ningbo, is showcased at the COP17. [Photo/Yongpai App]

A nature education initiative in Haishu district, Ningbo, Zhejiang province, showcased two major achievements at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP17, held in Yerevan, Armenia, marking a new step forward in local efforts to protect biodiversity.

Four years after a biodiversity conservation case in Longguan township was featured at COP15 in Montreal, Canada, Haishu returned to the international stage with a youth nature journaling camp and draft evaluation guidelines for young people's nature journals.

Located in the region's rich mountain forests, the camp integrates scientific monitoring, environmental education, and hands-on observation. Young participants explore local ecosystems, identify species, monitor stream water quality, and document wildlife. Their observations also help enrich local biodiversity records.

To promote a fair and science-based assessment, the draft guidelines introduce an evaluation framework covering originality, scientific accuracy, ethics, objectivity, and communication. They prioritize respect for nature and field-based observation over artistic skill, while setting out clear assessment procedures for different age groups.

The initiative reflects Haishu's efforts to make biodiversity conservation accessible to the public. By encouraging young people to observe, document, and share the natural world, Ningbo is offering a locally developed model of nature education that could be adapted elsewhere.