Global First NbS Summer School Launched at Xixinan Turenscape Academy

In June 2025, the world's first "Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Summer School" was successfully held and concluded at the Wangshan Life Rural Revitalization Experimental Site in Xixinan Town, Huizhou District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province.

The event brought together representatives from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the NbS Global Hub, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the National Marine Administration, the Shanghai Bureau of the National Natural Resources Inspectorate, the Shanghai Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau, Yangpu District, and other institutions, as well as renowned experts and training participants in the field of global ecological governance, with over a hundred attendees in total.

This summer school aimed to cultivate future leaders in global ecological conservation, sustainable development, and landscape design. Professor Kongjian Yu, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Dean of the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Peking University, and Chief Designer of Wangshan Life, led international participants on field visits to the Xixinan Wetland with its poplar and maple forests, the Huizhou Weir (a World Heritage Irrigation Structure), the Key Laboratory of Water Ecosystem Protection and Restoration (under preparation) of the Ministry of Water Resources, and surrounding ecological projects. The participants gained in-depth insights into local innovative practices in ecological restoration, nature-based rural revitalization, and sustainable low-carbon development.

Since its arrival in Xixinan Village in 2016, the Wangshan Life team has consistently adhered to the philosophy of "conserving the natural foundation, activating through thoughtful interventions, fostering coexistence between old and new, and sharing prosperity with the local community." The team has conducted rural revitalization experiments in Xixinan Village—practicing a lifestyle where mountains are visible, waters are in sight, and a sense of nostalgia is preserved—while exploring pathways for high-quality rural development and improved quality of life, ultimately realizing the vision that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

The integrated "Wangshan Life" model, which combines poetic living, ecological and high-quality agriculture, comprehensive tourism, research and study practices, and artistic cultural creation, has taken root and flourished in Xixinan Village. This model has driven rural revitalization in the area, creating a better life for urban residents while ensuring the protection and efficient utilization of the natural ecology.

"The ecological management in Xixinan not only preserves the original landscape but also enhances biodiversity through low-intervention design, providing a model for sustainable rural development globally," participants remarked with deep appreciation during their visit. Guests at the event also highly praised the initiative, stating, "The air is fresh, the water systems are clear, and ecology and culture are perfectly integrated here, truly reflecting the core values of NbS."

NbS (Nature-based Solutions) is a comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing ecological challenges, proposed by the World Bank and promoted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). When a region or project gains NbS recognition, it signifies that its effectiveness and sustainability in ecological governance have been acknowledged by authoritative international institutions.

The practices of Wangshan Life and Turenscape Academy in Xixinan not only provide a typical case for the localization of NbS but also contribute Chinese wisdom to global ecological governance.

In the future, the team will take this event as an opportunity to further deepen NbS research and international cooperation, contributing to the global development of ecological civilization.