On November 28, 2025, the United Nations Environment Programme – International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP) successfully hosted the 17th CEL Seminar. Dr. Jiangang Zhu, President of Beijing Academy of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, delivered an academic report entitled “Discussion on the Path of Scientific and Technological Innovation of Landscape Greening in the Context of Garden City” at Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The seminar was hosted by Prof. Linxiu Zhang, Director of the UNEP-IEMP Centre, and moderated by Assoc. Prof. Xiangbo Xu, UNEP-IEMP Research Fellow.
In his presentation, Dr. Jiangang Zhu systematically analyzed the new challenges and emerging demands facing the field of urban landscaping. He examined shifts in human needs, transformations in economic models, the evolution of urban development patterns, and the intrinsic development trends within the landscaping industry. Focusing on the construction of garden cities, he highlighted two key innovation objectives: ecological functionalization and earth artification. Furthermore, he proposed specific innovation pathways and strategies centered on three core directions: “platformization of research institutes, productization of outcomes, and scenario-based technology application.” Drawing on practical cases from Beijing, Dr. Zhu shared innovative models for garden residential areas, garden streets, and garden villages, underscoring the vital role of landscape greening in enhancing urban ecological quality and residents' well-being.
Following the report, Dr. Zhu engaged in in-depth discussions with participants, including researchers and professionals, on current challenges and future directions for technological innovation in landscape greening. The exchange further promoted the integration and innovation of the garden city concept across both research and practical applications.
The seminar strengthened academic exchange and collaboration between UNEP-IEMP and Beijing Academy of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, contributing to the ongoing discourse on sustainable urban development and ecological civilization.
