Advanced Fieldcourse in Ecology and Conservation-Xihuangbanna 2015 (AFEC-X 2015), which is the 7^th of the course organized by Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG), was opened on October 12. The opening ceremony brought together 32 trainees from 11 countries, Prof. Chen Jin, Prof. Richard Corlett, and officials from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS).

Advanced Fieldcourse in Ecology and Conservation is an an intensive course in field research methods, including research design, sampling and data analysis, intended primarily for early-stage graduate students in Ecology and Conservation.

The organizer received 96 application from 19 countries and selected 32 applicants from 11 countries as eligible for the course.

As the course going on, a typical day includes lectures, practical work in the field or laboratory, and opportunities for informal discussion. The 32 trainees will take part in established long-term field monitoring experiments and gain experience in independent project design. They will develop and present research proposals conduct field-based data collection.

The course will last 6 weeks from October 12 to November 23.When the course draws to end, a symposium will be held for the participants to present results of course activities amongst their peers and instructors.

Prof. Chen Jin, director of XTBG, delivered an opening speech at the course. He hoped the participants will play a better role in regional biodiversity conservation after the training.

: AFEC-X has obtained accreditation from the Chinese Academy of Sciences

(CAS). Graduate students from the Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (GUCAS) and institutes under CAS will receive two course credits towards their degree program upon completion of the AFEC-X field course.