Biotropica has published its Special Section: Tropical Forests of Xishuangbanna, Southwest China in Volume 38 Issue 3 Page 306-347, 2006. Six (6) articles by the XTBG scientists are included in the special section, which covers the types of tropical forests, geological history, flora and vegetation, forest structure and biomass, soil seed bank in a dipterocarp rain forest, phenology of Ficus racemosa, litter decomposition and nutrient release in tropical forests of Xishuangbanna. In addition, a photo of the Shorea chinesis forest in Xishuangbanna has been selected as cover of this issue.

 The research work of XTBG focuses on conservation biology, forest ecosystem ecology and resources botany. The articles published in the special section are only part of the recent scientific achievements of the Garden.

Ranked by the ISI index, Biotropica is a highly regarded source of original research on the ecology and conservation of tropical ecosystems and on the evolution, behavior, and ecology of tropical organisms. Published on behalf of the Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), the journal's Special Issues and Special Sections quickly become indispensable references for researchers in the field. Biotropica publishes timely Papers, Reviews, Commentaries, and Short Communications. Its editor-in-chief is Prof. Robin L. Chazdon of the University of Connecticut. Its impact factor is 0.977 in the year of 2004.

The following is the list of the articles published in the Special Section:

SPECIAL SECTION: TROPICAL FORESTS OF XISHUANGBANNA, SOUTHWEST CHINA
1. Cao, Min, Zou, Xiaoming*, Warren, Matthew and Zhu, Hua. 2006. Tropical forests of Xishuangbanna, China. Biotropica, 38(3): 306-309.
2. Zhu, Hua*, Cao, Min, Hu, Huabin. 2006. Geological history, flora and vegetation of Xishuangbanna, Southern Yunnan. Biotropica, 38(3): 310-317.
3. Zheng, Zheng*, Feng, Zhili, Cao, Min, Li, Zhongfei and Zhang, Jianhou. 2006. Forest structure and biomass of a tropical seasonal rain forest in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Biotropica, 38(3): 318-327.
4. Tang, Yong, Cao, Min* and Fu, Xianhui. 2006.Soil seed bank in a dipterocarp rain forest in Xishuangbanna, SW China. Biotropica, 38(3): 328-333.
5. Zhang, Guangming, Song, Qishi* and Yang, Darong. 2006. Phenology of Ficus racemosa in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Biotropica, 38(8): 334-341.
6. Zheng, Zheng*, Shanmughavel, P., Sha, Liqing, Cao, Min and Warren, Mathew. 2006. Litter decomposition and nutrient release in a tropical seasonal rain forest of Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Biotropica, 38(3): 342-347.