This project wrapped up with a fruitful knowledge exchange and report presentation event.
On 27 August 2022, the Symposium on Countryside Conservation and Rural Revitalization, co-organized by the project team and HKU Centre of Urban Studies and Urban Planning (CUSUP), was successfully held. This was also part of the 111th Anniversary Celebration event series.
We were honoured to have influential policy makers and researchers from Mainland China and Hong Kong, sharing their dedicated works in the field of rural revitalization. Online and on-site speakers include Prof. Chengwei Huang, Prof. Tiejun Wen, Prof. Liu Jinlong, Prof. Stephen Tang of CCO, Prof. Weijen Wang, as well as our project coordinator and co-investigator, Prof. He and Dr. Zhu. We were also gladly joined by various stakeholders from the government (CCO), academics, village representatives, journalists, project-doers, and over 300 online participants from mainland and Hong Kong.
Countryside conservation and rural revitalization concern scholars and policy makers worldwide in search of new conceptualizations and new opportunities for multifunctional utilization of rural places. Thus far, many innovative ideas and initiatives exist in valorizing place-based revitalization efforts across different jurisdictions and disciplines. The symposium was packed with inspiring presentations discussing the national rural policies, local adaptations, and concepts to approach related ecological and social matters. Our guests, the Village Representatives, and the online audience also shared concerns surrounding the on-the-ground applications of revitalization concepts.
We understand that it would take persistent efforts to achieve rural revitalization. We hope that by gathering policy makers, researchers and local stakeholders, ideas could be converted into actions, achieving a more coordinated and sustainable rural development. Although this project had sadly come to an end, we wish that our concept and action plan would act as a guideline and inspiration for authorities and local communities (as well as you who are reading this) to act for this region, and continue to share your challenges and solutions in the Idea Bank page!