From 21 to 22 November 2019, the first National Conference on Ecosystem Observation and Research and the 30th Anniversary Symposium of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) were held in Beijing. A team of nine people from the Qingyuan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as: the Qingyuan Station) attended the conference.

The first National Conference on Ecosystem Observation and Research included 27 sessions and a total of 227 section talks.  More than 1,000 representatives and invited guests attended.

ZHU Jiaojun and YAN Qiaoling, two researchers from Qingyuan Station convened and organized the session with the theme of "Forest Ecosystem Structure, Function and Regulation”. The session was chaired by YAN Qiaoling. ZHU Jiaojun, Professor WEI Tianxing from Beijing Forestry University, and Researcher WEI Wei from the CAS Eco-Environmental Research Center gave three keynote addresses, titled "Structure Features and Renewal Succession of Forest Gaps", "Study on Productivity and Biodiversity of Pinus tabulaeformis and Robinia pseudoacacia Forests in the Loess Slopes in Jixian County, Shanxi” and “Monitoring and Evaluation of Ecological and Hydrological Effects of Revegetation and Site Preparation", respectively. Five other researchers from the CAS and the Central South University of Forestry and Technology gave another five talks.

At the 30th anniversary symposium of CERN, SUN Ming, deputy director of the CAS Science and Technology Development Bureau, academician FU Bojie, deputy director of the scientific committee of CERN, and academician YU Guirui gave keynote addresses, titled "The history, contributions and experiences of CERN”, "Scientific Frontiers in Ecosystem Observation and Research" and "Ecosystem Management Discipline Construction”, respectively. Besides, the “Books Series on Ecosystem Process and Changes", “CERN Ecosystem Monitoring Technical Specifications” (Book Series, the third edition) and “CERN Ecosystem Science Database” were issued during the anniversary symposium.

The conference also presented the CERN Science and Technology Contribution Awards, the Young Outstanding Paper Awards, and the 30th Anniversary Medals of CERN.

At the 25th working meeting of CERN, relevant personnel reported on the progress of CERN's work in 2017 and 2018, and discussed and planned the future development of CERN in the next year and in its 14th Five-Year.

The Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) was established in 1988 to monitor and study China's ecosystems and environment, and to develop resource science, environmental science and ecology. At present, the network consists of 18 agriculture stations, 12 forest stations, 7 grassland stations, 6 water-body stations, 1 urban station, 5 sub-centers specialized on water, soil, atmosphere, biology and water, respectively, and a comprehensive research center and a data center. CERN now has become a comprehensive network that integrates "observation, research and demonstration of ecosystems" and is one of the most influential ecosystem research networks at home and abroad.