Natura 2000 is regarded as a milestone in nature conservation: this network of around 27,000 protected areas across the EU is designed to preserve wild plant and animal species and their habitats. It is the world’s largest network of protected areas across countries. However, experts say that many of the species and habitats protected there are not in a favourable conservation status. And in some areas, there is a lack of public support. Researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Kassel are now demonstrating how a “biocultural approach” can open up new opportunities by incorporating aspects such as the traditions, values and knowledge of the local population into nature conservation. The EU’s aim to make at least 30 per cent of land and sea areas protected areas by 2030 could contribute to the continuing development of the Natura 2000 Network. The researchers detail measures that take into account natural and cultural landscapes together and involve local people. The perspective article was published in the journal Conservation Letters.

Zhong is being recognized for inventing the synchronized-and-democratized (SYNDEM) architecture by merging synchronization principles in natural sciences and democracy concepts in social sciences and for pioneering virtual synchronous machines (VSM) technologies to revolutionize power systems.