On March 19, 2020, Shenyang Urban Ecosystem Observation and Research Station held a project assessment meeting at the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shenyang. Li Jianzhu, Class-I inspector from the Science and Technology Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), Song Hongzhu, head of the Innovation and Development Division of NFGA, Sun Shangwei, senior engineer of NFGA, Jin Donghai, director of the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Liaoning Province (FGBL), Sun Tiegang, head of the Science and Technology Division of FGBL, Fang Yunting and Zhuo Junchen, deputy directors of the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wang Xugao, head of the Science and Technology Division of IAE, and core researchers of the Urban Ecosystem Research Station attended the meeting. 

Prof. Wang Cheng and Prof. Jia Zhiqing from the Chinese Academy of Forestry, Prof. Zhou Jinxing from Beijing Forestry University, Prof. Fan Shaohui from the International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, and Prof. Zhou Yongbin from Shenyang Agricultural University were invited to form the Project Assessment Group. 

On the morning of March 19, members of the Project Assessment Group and leaders participating in the meeting paid a visit to the Agricultural Product Safety and Environmental Quality Testing Center of IAE, the meteorological observation station, the main building and the Arboretum of Shenyang Urban Ecosystem Research Station. In the afternoon, the Assessment Meeting of the Station Construction Project was held. The meeting was presided over by Song Hongzhu.  

Prof. Chen Wei, on behalf of the research station, gave a detailed report on the necessity and feasibility to upgrade infrastructure of the research station. She also spoke of the content, the objectives and main tasks of the construction project, the work foundation of the research station, as well as the implementation plan and budget management of the construction project.  

Through careful discussion after hearing the report, all members of the Project Assessment Group agreed to let the project pass the inspection and appraisement. Prof. Wang Cheng, head of the Project Assessment Group, said that the Shenyang Urban Ecosystem Research Station has distinct regional importance to urban ecosystem study in China. It has solid research foundation, reasonable research layout, a brilliant research team with multi-disciplinary background, and has met the requirements of the project assessment standard. The Project Assessment Group also put forward some suggestions on project tasks at the next stage. 

Li Jianzhu pointed out that Shenyang Urban Ecosystem Research Station is a station affiliated with the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. With solid research foundation and strong research capacity, its scientific research is expected to reach international level and meet major national needs (e.g., carbon neutrality study) . He suggested that Shenyang Urban Ecosystem Research Station should conduct cutting-edge science and provide technical support and solutions to solve urban environmental problems in China, so as to serve the sustainable development and the construction of "ecological civilisation" and a "beautiful China". 

Shenyang Urban Ecosystem Observation and Research Station was founded in 2003, formerly known as Shenyang Experimental Station for Urban Ecology and Urban Environment Studies. The station was affiliated to the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the head of which was Prof. He Xingyuan.    

The main tasks of the research station are as follows: 

1. The research station aims to complete the construction of a high-standard observation field, a batch of permanent sampling plots and a set of laboratories that are equipped with necessary hardwares, facilities and observational devices, and that can meet the technical specifications described in the "Construction Criteria for Urban Ecosystem Observation and Research Stations".  

2. To provide real-time data for CTERN, the research station conducts continuous observation in Shenyang to collect hydrological data, meteorological data, biological data and soil data in accordance with the requirements of "urban ecosystem observational indices system". 

3. The research station carries out multi-disciplinary, multi-scale and multi-process research, focusing on the study of urban ecosystem structure and function, landscape pattern and process, environmental stresses and ecosystem responses, ecosystem service, function evaluation and value accounting, etc.