The workshop of Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Ficus-fig wasp community assembly and utilization in tropical Asia was held at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) from November 19 to 24. It brought together researchers from the USA, France, Thailand, Nepal, and Malaysia, alongside domestic counterparts from Beijing Forestry University and China Agricultural University.

Prof. Xing Yaowu, director of XTBG, delivered a welcome speech. He congratulated the establishment of the Joint Laboratory and said that XTBG will provide robust research platforms and team support to facilitate regional cooperation in biodiversity conservation.

Prof. Xing Yaowu and Prof.Finn Kjellberg from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) unveiled the Joint Laboratory's plaque. Prof. Peng Yanqiong, head of the Joint Laboratory, outlined its establishment background, team composition, research focus, and future plans.

At the scientific session, 9 lectures concerning figs, fig wasps, and frugivores were presented. The topics included germplasm resource collection and ecological restoration of figs in Malaysia, fig diversity distribution and ecological service functions in Nepal, planning for ecological restoration sites in Thailand, global updates on fig species diversity and the diversity of ground-dwarf fig species in Borneo, analysis  of morphological characteristics in figs and their pollinating wasps, wolbachia interactions and co-evolution within the fig-wasp system, mechanism of fig wasp community assembly, diversity of frugivores associated with figs.

At the field studies, participants were led to learn Ficus taxonomy, specimen collection and identification, hands-on training in methods for observing fig phenology and monitoring frugivore activity, etc.

Furthermore, in-depth discussions were held on ongoing research into chemical communication within fig-wasp systems, co-diversification, and frugivorous bird networks, leading to a consensus on enhanced regional collaboration.

This international joint laboratory was officially approved in July 2025 and funded by the Department of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province for a three-year project period. It aims to foster international collaboration in researching the complex ecological and evolutionary relationships within fig-wasp communities, with implications for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem understanding in Tropical Asia.

Plaque unveiling of  Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Ficus-fig wasp community assembly and utilization in tropical Asia.

Participants pose a group photo.

Indoor and field studies.