Invited by research groups of Secondary Forest Ecology and Management IAE, Qingyuan Forest Ecosystem Research Station CAS and Forest Ecology and Management CAS, Dr Gary Cerr, the specialist in silviculture in Forest Research, Forestry Commission, UK and Chief Editor of internationally main- stream Journal Forestry visited IAE on 2-8 July, 2017.

On 3 July, accompanied by Prof YAN Qiaoling in research group of Secondary Forest Ecology and Management, Vice director of Shenyang Arboretum ZHANG Yue, Dr Gary Kerr visited the Huishan part of Shenyang Arboretum. ZHANG Yue introduced the history of the arboretum, plant species conservation, scientific research and science popularization of the arboretum; tree species indigenous in Northeast China, trees suitable to urban environment, medical plants, wet land plants planted in the arboretum and related conservation work. Dr Kerr gave suggestions on plant seed collection, storage and exchange.

On 4 July, the vice director of IAE , Prof ZGU Jiaojun introduced IAE and forestry of Northeast China to the guest. Dr Kerr gave a seminar entitled as Silvicultural Challenges for the 21st Century in UK Forestry, introducing the current situation and challenges to the UK forestry in 21 Century and measures to enhance the resilience of UK forest by tree species selection, stand composition and genetic improvement. He also gave a report on Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research: The Journal and How to Prepare a Paper. Dr WANG Gaofeng, guest scientist of CAS, the director of Silviculture and Ecology, Clemsen University, US, Prof FANG Yunting, the vice director of IAE and about 30 workers in the Key Lab of Forest Ecology and Management CAS attended the activities.

On 5 July, Dr G Kerr visited Qingyuan Research Station. Prof ZHU Jiaojun introduced the construction background, research direction, sample plot construction, main research results of the station. They had an excursion around the various experimental and observatory plots. Dr Kerr expressed interest in forest regeneration, uneven aged stand silviculture and had discussions with related workers.

On 6 July, Dr Kerr visited Zhanggutai experimental base and Daqinggou Sandy Land Ecology Research Station on the south periphery of Kerqin Sandy land. He saw the plots for monitor sand dune moisture and water use by Mongolian pine stands with different density in the base and plots for the effect of management measures (including fertilization, under-canopy vegetation and litter management) on tree growth and soil nutrient cycling, plots for the responses of Mongolian pine plantation to fertilization and drought stress. In the excursion, Dr Kerr expressed interests in tree species selection and stand management of the protective forests and the experiment for Mongolian pine stand fertilization and water use control.

On 7 July, Dr Kerr attended a seminar sponsored by the Key Lab of Forest Ecology and Management CAS, Prof FANG Yunting reported N Cycling in Forest Ecosystem. Dr SONG Lining gave report entitled as Water Utilization of Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) Plantations in a Semiarid Sandy Land of Northeast China, introduced the advancement in water use and water lose by transpiration. Dr ZHENG Xiao reported Assessment of the Effects of Shelterbelts on Crop Yields at the Regional Scale in Northeast China. Dr GAO Tian`s report: Estimations of Growing Stock Volume and Timber Production of Larch Plantations and their Implications for Forest Management. Prof YAN Qiaoling gave report entitled as Uneven-Aged Silviculture by Regulating Stand Structure. After the seminar, Prof YAN had discussions with Dr Kerr on the further exchange and cooperation between the 2 sides.