Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) hosted a workshop named “Research Priorities in Climate Change Biology in the Tropics and Subtropics” in Xishuangbanna during June 11-12, which was present by 26 researchers and educators from XTBG, Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), Kunming Institute of Botany, and some universities. The workshop was the second of the two planning meetings to establish collaborative research, education and training priorities, which was supported by the NSF Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) and Division of Environmental Biology – Dimensions of Biodiversity program.

18 presentations were made at the workshop, which covered such topics as: causes of climate change, geographic framework of paleo-climate and paleo-vegetation, contemporary climate and spatial patterns of biodiversity, monitoring on responses of species distribution and biodiversity to climate change, public education and outreach on climate change, etc.

Participants put forward their opinions on research priorities in climate change biology in the tropics and subtropics. A comprehensive report will be completed by Prof. Richard Corlett who chaired the workshop.

On June 13, OTS and XTBG held a workshop on public education and outreach. Dr.Cynthia Sagers, Dr. Ed Stashko, Dr. Chen Jin, Dr. Richard Corlet, and some education staff participated.

After the workshop, a proof-of-concept field course  "The Ecology of Climate Change in the Tropics and Subtropics - China "is going on in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG).

Participants pose a group photo

Scientists who made presentations

Discussing public education and outreach