On June 26, the first academic committee meeting for Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Rainforest and Asian Elephant Protection (proposed) and the Center for Integrative Conservation of XTBG was held. Researchers and experts gathered at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) to discuss development prospects for the key lab. 

CAS academician Ji Weizhi was appointed as honorary chairman. Prof. Li Dezhu was appointed as chairman of the academic committee, with Prof. Shi Peng and Prof. Wang Weibin as vice chairmen. The members of the academic committee included Prof.s Richard Corlett, Chen Jin, Yang Yongping, Sun Weibang, Zhong Mingchuan, Chen Mingyong, Cui Liangwei, Harald Schneider and Kyle Warwick Tomlinson. 

Prof. Yang Yongping, director of XTBG, conferred appointment certificates to all academic committee members. 

The academic committee discussed positioning and development of the key lab and center for integrative conservation. They put forward guiding opinions and suggestions on the development of the Key Lab. 

As the first provincial-level key laboratory for tropical rainforest and Asian elephant protection of Yunnan, the establishment of this Key Lab will promote regional biodiversity protection and contribute to integrative conservation. 

Academic committee meeting.