Carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems is the most economically feasible and environmentally friendly way to mitigate elevated CO₂ concentrations and to enhance carbon sink potential in nature.  

On December 24, 2021, the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences ("YPA" for short) held its 2021 annual meeting and the Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Neutrality Youth Forum in Shenyang in Offline and Live Streaming mode, aiming to promote academic exchanges and cooperation in this field. 

More than 100 people attended the meeting, including YPA members, and IAE's young scientists, technicians, graduate students and administrative leaders (director Zhu Jiaojun; deputy directors Fang Yunting and Zhuo Junchen; Jin Changjie, secretary of the Party Committee; Wang Xugao, Head of Science and Technology Division; Fu Bin, Deputy Head of Personnel and Education Division). 

Fang Yunting presided over the opening ceremony of the forum. Prof. Sun Tao, Head of YPA, presided over the forum in the morning. At the opening ceremony, Zhu Jiaojun gave a speech encouraging YPA members to challenge cutting-edge scientific issues, to care about national affairs and shoulder national responsibility, and to conduct more innovative research.  

At the beginning of the forum, Zhu Jiaojun gave a talk titled "Carbon Neutrality Goals and Forest Ecosystem Carbon Sink". Then, Prof. Han Guangxuan of Yantai Institute of Coastal Zones, Prof. Zhu Chunwu of Nanjing Institute of Soil Sciences, Prof. Lu Xiankai and Prof. Wang Faming from South China Botanical Garden, Prof. Ge Tida of Ningbo University, Prof. Chen Leiyi of Institute of Botany, and Prof. Zhu Jianxiao of Lanzhou University gave talks on carbon capture and sequestration in forests, grasslands, wetlands, farmland and other terrestrial ecosystems. 

In the afternoon, Prof. Li Qi presided over the forum. Wang Xugao gave a talk entitled "Dynamics and Mechanism of Carbon Sequestration in the Korean pine and broad-leaved trees mixed forests in northeast China". Afterward Dr. Geshere Abdisa Gurmesa, Prof. Wang Qingwei, Prof. Hao Guangyou and Prof. Xi Fengming from IAE made presentations concerning the impacts of global changes, solar radiation and tree physiology on forest carbon sinks, as well as the opportunities and challenges for carbon neutralization in Liaoning Province. 

After the forum, YPA's 2021 annual meeting was held. Fu Bin presided at the meeting. At the end of the meeting, Jin Changjie fully affirmed the work of YPA and put forward ardent hopes for the future work of the association.