The world is urbanizing at a faster clip than ever before in history. According to the Nature Conservancy, an international land and water conservation non-profit organization, every six weeks, a new city the size of New York City goes up somewhere in the world.

The world is rapidly urbanizing, and it is predicted that by 2050 there will be 9 billion people on Earth; furthermore, a staggering 75 percent of them are forecasted to live in cities—all needing food, water, air, energy and space.

The sheer demand for the additional urban infrastructure necessary to support growing cities will strain both natural resources and public finances, potentially making cities profoundly unlivable places, at the mercy of floods, storms, droughts, polluted air and habitat fragmentation.

Shanghai is a highly urbanized area with an extreme density of population and structures. There is not enough open space for the public to enjoy nature and relax, especially downtown. One serious problem is habitat loss and fragmentation, the number of urban wildlife is declining, and many species have even disappeared from the city.

Join us this Friday, October 12, as we invite SEED fellow Yu Lin Lin, Shanghai conservation manager at The Nature Conservancy, to discuss the role of nature in cities and what we as citizens can do for a city's biodiversity.

SEED is the only overseas-based social venture accelerator for Chinese innovators and was run on a voluntary basis until last year. All together, over 400 Chinese volunteers have joined the community and demonstrate Social Responsibility, Empathy, Empowerment and Dedication (SEED) through concrete action. You can learn more at: www.seedabetterchina.org​.

Fresh Start Rotary Club of Shanghai is a member club of a global network of 1.2 million who envision a world where people unite to create lasting change. We support social enterprise and help empower entrepreneurs with a social purpose.

We warmly welcome all to attend, listen, and ask questions.