Integration of biodiversity education and grassroots green development sees achievements in East China

East China's Zhejiang Province is setting a precedent with its innovative and impactful approaches to integrating biodiversity education and sustainable development into the fabric of daily life and community-driven initiatives. The region's commitment to nurturing environmental stewardship among the youth is not only evident in its educational programs but also in the grassroots efforts that champion eco-friendly practices and sustainable living.

In the heart of Zhejiang Province, the State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company has taken significant strides in integrating biodiversity education and green development into the fabric of community life. As the world marks the Ecological Day, the company has demonstrated a commitment to ecological civilization through its "Green Development and Low-Carbon Life" initiatives.

August 15 of this year marks China's second National Ecology Day. Lin Muchen, a 12-year-old primary school student, echoed the sentiments of many when she said, "Participating in today's Ecological Day activities has deepened my understanding of the importance of protecting the natural ecosystem. We should all take practical steps to cherish wildlife and protect our green home."

The State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company seized the opportunity of the second National Ecological Day to launch volunteer activities centered around the "State Grid Green Ark Program," a public welfare project aimed at energy conservation, green environmental protection, and the popularization of safe electricity. The event invited residents to engage with an "energy-saving consumption voucher subsidy" and guided children in creating talent cards and windmill DIYs under the "State Grid Green Ark Program."

The initiative encourages public participation in ecological civilization construction and advocates active involvement in environmental protection to uphold ecological balance, promote harmony between humans and nature, and ensure the sustainable development of biodiversity alongside economic and social progress.

The "State Grid Green Ark Program," a public welfare brand project initiated jointly by the State Grid Public Welfare Foundation and the China Environmental Protection Foundation in 2022, focuses on protecting the habitats of rare species. By developing green power supply systems in and around these habitats, the program provides reliable clean electricity and digital tools for biodiversity conservation research and practical work.

Statistics reveal that Zhejiang has recorded over 6,100 species of 307 higher plants under national key protection, accounting for approximately 17 percent of the national total, and 790 species of terrestrial wild vertebrates, which is about 30 percent of the national total. State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company has embedded biodiversity protection into every facet of power grid construction, operation, and maintenance, building an eco-friendly power grid that prioritizes natural benefits and continually enhances biodiversity protection measures for a more diverse, stable, and sustainable ecosystem.