Led by young researchers, Smart‑Coastal Restoration fights destructive plant invasion and restores blue‑carbon wetlands at China’s Yancheng UNESCO site. Drones and AI spot invasive patches at an early stage, while a practical decision‑making tool helps local managers spend limited conservation budgets wisely. By training on‑site rangers, we protect migratory bird homes, strengthen coastlines against climate risks, and build a shareable digital‑restoration model for other coastal regions across the globe.
What made you want to be engaged in the fight against climate change?
Growing up inland, I had limited direct exposure to coastal ecosystems. It was not until I started my research on coastal wetland conservation that I witnessed the severe damage caused by invasive species to blue‑carbon salt marshes. These precious habitats are vanishing, weakening our natural defence against climate risks.
Seeing real‑world ecological degradation drove me to take action. As a young researcher, I hope to translate academic theories into practical, affordable restoration solutions. I believe youth can bridge science and on‑site management, protecting biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience for local communities.
What motivates/inspires you?
What inspires me most is the tangible impact of science on real‑world environmental challenges. Fieldwork along coastal wetlands lets me observe both ecological damage and the possibility of recovery. It is rewarding to turn remote‑sensing data and academic models into practical tools that local managers can actually use.
I am also motivated by the power of youth‑driven innovation. Many on‑site conservation problems lack perfect technical answers, and young researchers can bring fresh perspectives. Knowing my work may help protect blue‑carbon ecosystems and benefit local communities pushes me to keep refining my project and pursue more accessible climate solutions.
What advice do you have for the youth that want to be involved with climate action?
My advice for young people engaging in climate action is to stay grounded in real‑world problems instead of only focusing on abstract concepts. Start with issues around you, combine your academic strengths with local practical demands.
You do not need grand ideas at the beginning. Small, actionable projects can also generate real‑world influence. Listen to local practitioners and community voices, avoid over‑idealized solutions. Keep patient when facing setbacks. Every young person can contribute by turning knowledge into down‑to‑earth climate‑related practice.
Which type of organisation would be most valuable for you to connect with during the event and why?
I would highly value connections with universities & research centres as well as governmental environmental institutions.
Research institutes can support technical iteration of our smart‑coastal restoration project, sharing field‑tested experience on invasive species control and blue‑carbon assessment. Government environmental authorities help bridge research and local policy implementation. Their practical site‑management insights enable our decision‑support tool to fit real‑world administrative needs.
Such partnerships will help our technology move from academic prototypes toward scalable, on‑the‑ground conservation practice for coastal wetland restoration.
Are there any topics you would especially like to speak about?
I would like to talk about youth‑driven coastal wetland restoration, especially our practical experience on the physical removal of Spartina alterniflora. I am eager to share how we combine UAV multi‑spectral monitoring and AI‑powered mapping to support blue‑carbon ecosystem conservation.
Besides technical innovation, I also hope to discuss how academic research can be translated into accessible, site‑specific tools for local environmental managers. It would be great to exchange ideas on bridging scientific outputs and on‑the‑ground climate action for coastal communities.
What is the most interesting story behind your project that you think people should hear?
I grew up inland and had little coastal‑wetland experience at first. During fieldwork, I watched local managers struggle against fast‑spreading Spartina alterniflora. Manual surveys were slow, and limited budgets made precise restoration planning extremely hard.
That real‑world frustration sparked our project. We combined UAV multi‑spectral monitoring, AI mapping and spatial‑optimized decision tools to lower restoration costs. What surprises me most: academic models can directly help field‑site practitioners. This story shows young researchers can bridge lab science and on‑the‑ground conservation to protect blue‑carbon coastal wetlands.Its equatorial location ensures that seawater temperatures in Bontang remain consistently warm and stable, free from the extreme seasonal fluctuations found in non-tropical regions. Seaweed is highly sensitive to sudden temperature changes, which can trigger “ice-ice” disease (causing the stalks to turn white and decay). This equatorial temperature stability results in healthier, less stressed seaweed with a stronger fibrous texture.