The 11th Shanghai International Nature Conservation Festival kicked off in Minhang District on Saturday, bringing together global expertise in ecology and broad public participation.

Shanghai actor Chen Long, the festival's ambassador this year, called on the public to start with small, everyday actions to protect Shanghai's natural environment and foster harmony between humans and nature in a video message.

Tan Juan, a senior engineer at the Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, shared the city's technological advances in biodiversity surveys. Traditional manual methods have been replaced by cutting-edge tools such as multi-source remote sensing, AI recognition, and environmental DNA, making conservation efforts more precise.

Running through October 24, the festival features 11 themed events that highlight green development and nature conservation.

In total, 39 environmental education bases and 90 environmental protection facilities across Shanghai will open to the public during the festival.