During the annual meeting 2006 of the Tropical Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), an Asian Chapter of ATBC was launched in Kunming on July 18. Dr. Chen Jin, director of XTBG was elected as the founding chairman of ATBC Asian Chapter.

Dr. William F. Laurance, ATBC president, presided over the launching meeting, and representatives from Asian and Pacific countries participated in. Besides chairman, the financial controller, secretary general and members of the ATBC Asian Chapter were elected at the meeting.