In order to spread knowledge of the formation of geological relics, laws of evolution and vegetation development of geological relics to the public, and promote the sustainable development and utilization of karst landscape resources, a summer educational practice activity was organized by the Management Committee of Leye-Fengshan Global Geopark and the Institute of Karst Geology of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences from July 30th to August 10th. Teachers and students from Guangxi Normal University, Hainan University, Hainan Normal University, Nanjing Agricultural University and Nanning Normal University were invited to do field research on ecosystem and biodiversity in Leye-Fengshan Global Geopark.

Because of such major advantages as unique landform of karst and non-karst, Leye-Fengshan Global Geopark provides a good ecological environment for the survival and reproduction of animals and plants. According to the statistics, there are 1190 species in 589 genus and 177 families of plants in the park, including 2 kinds of first-class national protected plants and 14 kinds of second-class national protected plants. Among them, 2 kinds of critically endangered species, 3 kinds of endangered species and 13 kinds of vulnerable species are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The park has become a paradise for some rare and endangered species. This summer activity mainly aims at carrying out surveys on biodiversity and ecosystem of karst in the park. By collecting plant and soil samples of different succession stages, teachers and students will analyze the plant functional traits, cycling of soil nutrient, the changes in biological communities and their coupling relationships. All the result will provides theoretical support to a systematical evaluation of the regional ecological environment.

During the course of the survey, teachers and students also had heated discussion on the perspectives of the scientific education and research, biodiversity, geological relics protection and tourism development of the geopark.

Leye-Fengshan Global Geopark has attached great importance to the scientific research and sustainable development of the park since its establishment with the approval of UNESCO. It has established a long-term cooperation with universities and research institutes to carry out scientific research constantly and lay a solid theoretical foundation for the sustainable development of the park.