Session on 2021 Scientific Investigation in Lop Nor and Its Surroundings

The wrap-up session on 2021 Scientific Investigation in Lop Nor and Its surroundings was host smoothly. Focusing on the scientific investigation in Lop Nor, multiple working groups of this grand project delivered reports on their own experiences and suggestions for movements in the next year.

In the session, Dr. Zhou also conveyed his thoughts and experience in this field investigation. The following is his speech content:
Our achievement in this year is pretty significant and I hold the confidence that we could perform better in fighting challenges in the future.

When it comes to invasive species, I have an idea for your reference that may prove different from yours. With the astonishing speed of globalization, we must recognize the pressure from invasive species as something inevitable. Compared with the traditional belief that the native must be conserved well against invaders, I think there is a new kind of innovation on modifying this view.

To begin with, it is known that every species has its own biological position in a certain ecosystem, therefore, if we think about this concept critically, we could readily realize that even invaders have a certain eco-value in the local natural system, their value in carbon neutrality, for example. Hence, it is a must that we do comprehensive researches in this invader’s influence as well as contribution in ecology. Moreover, since invaders change the existing balance, scientists are supposed to find out what the new balance is. To sum up, invaders are not invariably bad things.

In addition, as for field research around Lop Nor, our goal is to practice some research and monitoring in terms of ecological restoration and interplays among factors affected by ecological restoration. For example, we have known the qualitative link between insects and arbor-shrub-grass, but we have no idea on the exact quantitative relation between them. Therefore, in the future work, we must pay equal attention to both qualitative researches and quantitative ones.

Furthermore, we must exert more attention to evolvement and evolutions, including historic changes of water, plants, and wildlife. For instance, if we want to implement a ecological restoration on a mine, we should give enough emphasis on its previous developments in every step.

Last but not least, nowadays, carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is definitely the hottest topic. To restore the ecological conditions in Lop Nor is to capture the natural carbon. From data reported by IUCN, we now become aware that the capture of natural carbon is gigantic. Thus, there is every reason to believe that we are now able to make good use of this carbon data to do some sampling, calculating, and researching practices. From microorganisms to wildlife, things that are meaningful and feasible for scientists are numerous. 

It is true that we have made dramatic breakthrough this year’s expenditure. However, we should focus more on our innovation and thinking in the next year and have the resolve to seek the unknown area out. 

In the end of Dr. Zhou’s speech, he expressed his appreciation on everyone’s perseverance and diligence and hoped to make continuous endeavors for scientific practices in Lop Nor.

(This article is roughly based on Dr Zhou’s recording and has not been identified by him.)

Original Chinese article:  https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ykwwAS1We2YEF2dU3n4mIQ?notreplace=true&version=3.1.20.6008&platform=win

Translator/ Kim
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