From July 19 to 20, 2021, the Science and Technology Division of the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, organized the 2nd 2021 Applied Ecology Forum. 

The expert invited to this forum is Mr. Zhao Shidong, a researcher, doctoral supervisor, and forest ecologist at the Institute of Geographic Sciences & Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A total of more than 100 researchers and graduate students participated in the forum. Zhuo Junchen, deputy director of IAE, and Fu Bin, deputy head of the Personnel and Education Division of IAE, presided at the forum. 

Mr. Zhao Shidong gave two talks at the forum: "China's Forests and Forestry - Achievements, Problems and Visions" and "Diligence makes my dreams come true." 

In the first talk, Mr. Zhao offers audience a panoramic introduction to China’s forestry. He explained in detail the issues related to the 2020 National Forest Resources Survey, the Six Major Forestry Ecological Projects and the great achievements in afforestation after 2000. He gave presentations showing the distribution of China's main afforestation tree species and plantations. He pointed out the problems facing China's forestry development and put forward countermeasures and suggestions on the future management of plantations. 

In the second talk, Mr. Zhao presented photos showing his hard student days, his work experience at IAE, and the important academic events he attended at home and abroad. Through narrating stories about his career experience, happy family and retirement life, Mr. Zhao shared his understanding of the true meaning of life with audience, revealing the importance of diligence and hard work on education and career acquisition. 

Mr. Zhao's meticulous, pragmatic, hard-working and persistent spirit on science inspired the researchers and students being present at the meeting. This spiritual wealth will play an important role in guiding young scientists to do things in a solid manner.