The Advanced Field Course in Ecology and Conservation - Xishuangbanna (AFEC-X) comes to its 13th year. On October 26, the AFEC-X 2021 opened at the headquarters of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG). The opening ceremony brought teachers, students and related officials together. 

Due to the pandemic of COVID-19, the AFEC-X 2021 integrated offline and online training, following the model of AFEC-X 2020. 19 students will have offline courses and 174 participants from different countries will have online training.   

Prof. Yang Yongping, director of XTBG, delivered an opening speech. He introduced major missions of XTBG and wished participants a fruitful training. He declared open of the course. 

Prof. Chen Jin, head teacher of the training courses talked about the history and status quo of field trainings in tropical areas, and introduced targets of the advanced field course in ecology and conservation, and curriculum of this course.   

The field course is sponsored by the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) and CAS Bureau of Personnel. Prof. AI Likun, assistant executive director of Secretariat of ANSO, was present at the opening. 

After the opening ceremony, Prof. Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz delivered a lecture entitled “Ecology and Biogeography of Tropical East Asia”. 

AFEC-X is a six-week long intensive program in academic skills and research methods, including literature searching, reading, PPT making and presenting skills, scientific paper writing, research design, sampling and data analysis, intended primarily for early-stage graduate students in Ecology and Conservation. 

A typical day will include lectures, practical work in the field or laboratory, and opportunities for informal discussion. 

Participants will take part in established long term field monitoring experiments and gain experience in independent project design. With guidance, participants will develop and present research proposals and conduct field-based data collection. 

Offline trainees will have opportunity to have field studies and canopy crane studies at the 20-ha plot in Bubeng, Xishuangbanna. 

PRof. Chen Jin introduces the curriculum of the field course. 

Prof. Ai Likun introduces ANSO. 

Prof. Yang Yongping declares open of the course. 

Teachers and trainees pose a photo.