A Tree of Blossoms, A Forest of Legends: Lin Peijun and His Indissoluble Bond with the Ili Wild Fruit Forest | A Dive into Conservation History in China (47) —— The Guardian of Wild Fruit Forests, a Scientist Who Brought Ili to the World

Lin Peijun, an eminent Chinese botanist born in August 1928 in Yibin, Sichuan Province, dedicated his entire life to researching the wild fruit forests of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's Ili region. He made outstanding contributions to the protection of this precious ecological environment. In late July 2024, Zhou Jinfeng, Secretary-General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), read Lin's "Catalogue of My 56 Years of Scientific Work" (1954-2010, 53 years of which were spent in Ili) while on a research trip to southern provinces. Deeply moved, Dr Zhou discussed this with his colleagues. A decade ago, in 2014, Zhou had invited several academicians to write to the State Council, suggesting that greater protection be given to wild fruit forests. After reading Lin Peijun's materials, Zhou specially wrote this article, which is included in CBCGDF's "Dive into History" (史海钩沉) series for reference and inspiration for future generations.

[Path to Academia]

After graduating from the Horticulture Department of Southwest Agricultural College in 1954, Lin Peijun, with a deep passion for fruit trees, embarked on his journey to Xinjiang. The vast land and abundant natural resources of Xinjiang deeply attracted him, laying a solid foundation for his future research.

[Taking Root in Xinjiang, Deeply Involved in Research]

Upon arriving in Xinjiang, Lin Peijun was first assigned to work at a grassroots agricultural technology station in Hotan for two years, during which he also mastered fluent Uyghur. In 1957, he was reassigned to the Ili region to establish a new horticultural station. The Ili region, with its exceptional natural conditions, is home to a diverse range of wild fruit forests. This invaluable natural heritage captivated Lin Peijun’s attention. Starting as a field technician and making steady progress, he ventured deep into the Tianshan Mountains and embarked on a half-century-long career dedicated to the study of wild fruit forests.

[A Glorious Discovery: The Wild European Plum of Ili]

Wild fruit trees are the ancestors of many cultivated fruit trees and contain rich genetic diversity. These genes are essential resources for breeding new varieties, improving the disease and pest resistance of fruit trees, and adapting to climate change. Through research on wild fruit genes, scientists can cultivate higher quality, more cold-resistant, and disease-resistant fruit tree varieties, providing humans with a richer variety of fruit resources. Wild fruit trees, after thousands of years of natural selection, have developed unique adaptations. Although artificially cultivated fruit trees have high yields, their genetic diversity is far inferior to that of wild fruit trees. Moreover, by studying wild fruit forests, we can trace the origin and evolution of fruit trees and deepen our understanding of the evolution of life. It can be said that biodiversity conservation is a prerequisite for sustainable development, and these precious wild fruit germplasm resources are a vast "gene bank".

Lin Peijun devoted himself tirelessly to the study of wild fruit forests in the Ili region, achieving remarkable results. A groundbreaking discovery that astonished the global botanical community came when Lin Peijun and his wife, Shi Li, found wild European plums during their research in the wild fruit forests of Xinjiang’s Xinyuan County. The wild varieties of European plums had long been a point of contention among fruit scholars worldwide. Lin Peijun’s discovery provided conclusive evidence on this matter and established the Ili region as one of the key centers of origin for deciduous fruit trees globally.

[Abundant Research Achievements]

Lin Peijun was not satisfied with this significant discovery. He continued to lead his team in in-depth research on the wild fruit forest resources of the Ili region. He presided over the National Natural Science Foundation project "Tianshan Wild Fruit Forest Resources - Comprehensive Research on Ili Wild Fruit Forests" and published a monograph that detailed various aspects of the distribution, species, and value of the Ili wild fruit forest. In 2001, the book was listed as a key book of the "15th Five-Year Plan" by the National News Publishing Administration. In addition, he actively participated in international academic exchanges and promoted the uniqueness of the Ili wild fruit forest worldwide.

From 1954 to 2010, Lin Peijun spent 53 years in the Ili region. At his suggestion and through his vigorous advocacy, the Ili Prefecture government designated 1,500 acres of the most valuable wild fruit forest in Xinyuan County as the Xinjiang Tianshan Wild Fruit Forest Resource Reserve for protection and research. This significant contribution greatly advanced the ecological conservation of the land and the development of the fruit tree industry. Additionally, Lin Peijun trained a large number of fruit tree research professionals, providing crucial talent support for the development of the fruit tree industry not only in the Ili region but across the entire country.

From 2004 to 2010, he mainly researched Tianshan wild fruit forest resources and the construction of resource nurseries, providing China with a wealth of academic research results and policy recommendations for biodiversity conservation and germplasm resources.

[Protecting the Ecology, Sustainable Development]

Lin Peijun was not only an outstanding scientist but also a protector of the ecological environment. He deeply understood the importance of wild fruit forests in maintaining ecological balance and actively advocated for the protection of the Ili wild fruit forests. He ran and called for the establishment of the Ili Wild Fruit Forest Ecological Park and Nature Reserve, and put forward many constructive suggestions. Lin Peijun always adhered to the principle of balancing scientific research and ecological protection, and this series of tireless efforts has left a precious natural wealth for future generations.

Lin Peijun's story inspires many later generations to contribute to the cause of ecological environmental protection. He dedicated most of his life to researching the wild fruit forests of Ili, revealing the scientific mysteries behind them, and building a solid protective barrier for this precious natural heritage. Lin Peijun is a scientist worthy of our respect, and his spirit and achievements will forever remain in history. With this article, we pay tribute to this great scientist.

Materials provider | Zhou Jinfeng

Translator | Wendy

Reviewed | Samantha

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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