The 8th Shanghai International Nature Conservation Festival kicked off on Thursday with a 3D virtual host named Shenshen debuted to explain the feature events and digital collections at the online opening ceremony.

Featuring green and low-carbon development harmony between human and nature, nine themed activities including a celebrity forum, environmental protection science popularization, a photography exhibition and other on-theme events in various venues will be held through Nov 4 in the city.

Panels and round-table conferences will be held in Pudong and Chongming during the weekend, inviting experts from universities, research institutes and well-known enterprises to discuss topics focusing on achieving the goal of carbon neutrality and maintaining natural ecosystems.

The younger generations are expected to be a major part of the activities. Since June this year, nearly one million students have been involved in the related activities and more than 4,000 nature notes made by teenagers based on their own observation and research of the plants and environment have been received by the festival organizer.

A series of science popularization activities will be launched in the city's zoos, botanical garden and forest parks during the coming week.

The city's per capita greenery space amounted to 8.8 square meters by the end of last year. The number of parks is 532 in the city, about 3.5 times compared to 2011. Meanwhile, the city carried out the construction, protection and restoration of wildlife habitats according to local conditions, and established 22 wildlife habitats.

"As a metropolis, Shanghai has been exploring the best practice of the integration of city and nature, putting the idea of harmony between people and nature into the suburbs, urban renewal in the downtown and suburban districts," said Sha Jianbo, deputy director of Shanghai International Nature Conservation Festival Organizing Committee Office.

The festival is co-held by organizations including the city's science and technology commission, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, Shanghai's education commission, and Shanghai Landscaping & City Appearance Administration Bureau.