Forging Alliances for Nature: APRU Symposium Champions Biodiversity and Sustainability

Organized by the School of Life Sciences at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the APRU International Symposium on Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization 2025 was successfully held on 27–28 November, attracting about 100 participants hailing from over 10 universities and research institutions across seven countries and regions. The symposium provided a platform to explore strategies for promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource utilization against the backdrop of climate change and rapid development.

CUHK’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (External Affairs), Professor Jiang Liwen, officiated at the opening ceremony and delivered a speech emphasizing the pivotal role of international collaboration in addressing ecological challenges and advancing sustainability. He called on the academic community to work together to foster interdisciplinary research and policy advocacy.

The symposium featured 12 thematic talks and a poster session, covering areas such as agriculture and food security, sustainable use of wild species, invasive species detection, forest ecosystem resilience, and applications of genomics. Participants included representatives from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong, the University of Sydney, Sun Yat-sen University, the University of Malaya, the University of Southampton, Northeast Agricultural University, the Kunming Institute of Botany (Chinese Academy of Sciences), the Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT, and Kasetsart University, fostering interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration.

Beyond academic discussions, the programme also included an eco-tour to Sai Kung, offering participants the opportunity to experience Hong Kong’s unique natural landscapes and reinforcing the close link between research and education.

The Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) brings together over 60 leading universities from 18 economies across the Pacific Rim, dedicated to advancing research, education, and policy collaboration to address global challenges. The APRU Pacific Rim Biodiversity and Sustainability Programme, launched in 2021, aims to promote interdisciplinary research, capacity building, and policy advocacy. Working in synergy with other APRU initiatives on sustainable cities, forest ecosystems, and food security, it seeks to enhance biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization while strengthening resilience to climate change.