The training course named “The Ecology of Climate Change in the Tropics and Sub-Tropics” was unveiled in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) on June 16. The opening ceremony was attended by 25 trainees from 15 countries and 10 more teachers from XTBG, the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), and representatives of the National Science Foundation (NSF) of US, and CAS Bureau of International Cooperation.  

This course has been developed as collaboration between XTBG and OTS. This course emerged from an NSF-funded workshop in Costa Rica in June 2013. It is also funded by CAS Bureau of International Cooperation. 

The opening ceremony was chaired by Prof. Cao Min, deputy director of XTBG. Prof. Chen Jin, director of XTBG, made a welcome speech. Prof. Cao Jinghua, vice director of CAS Bureau of International Cooperation, and William Yii-Been Chang of NSF congratulated on the opening of the training course. Dr. Cynthia L. Sagers from University of Arkansas and a professor of XTBG introduced the development and scheme of the training course. 

  The XTBG - OTS is on-going from June 16 to July 15. It brings together 20 experts from around the world to teach different aspects of climate change ecology, from practical, theoretical and social perspectives. It uses a mix of lectures on theory with practical field experiences on methods in a range of very different ecosystems across Yunnan Province, Southwest China. The course encompasses cutting-edge techniques and research technologies, and multiple perspectives on the interaction between climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem function. Topics range from prediction (model-based approaches) to empirical research on species physiologies and a timeframe from the Eocene to the future.  

Speakers at the opening ceremony 

Group photo of participants  

Distribution map of trainees and teachers