“The 6th Symposium on Nationwide Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Utility” was held in Lijiang, Yunnan province from May 11 to 14, 2004. This meeting was jointly sponsored by Biodiversity Committee/CAS, Department of Natural Ecology Conservation/SEPA, Department of Wildlife Conservation/State Forestry Bureau, Department of Science and Technology/Ministry of Education, Department of Environmental Protection/State Bureau of Oceanic Administration and American Nature Conservancy. It involved many fields from biodiversity conservation research to conservation practice. Compared with previous five symposiums, people discussed more fields in biodiversity at this one. The whole level of academic papers was much higher than previous one in general, some of which had reached international standard. Among participants, besides domestic famous experts in biodiversity, there were also some representatives of postdoctor, doctor and master, who accounted for a considerate proportion. International celebrated experts in biodiversity were invited to give memoirs at the meeting, introducing the latest development in the study of international biodiversity. American Nature Conservancy provided 10 000 Yuan RMB to award five masters who had made great achievements in the research of biodiversity for the sake of encouraging more young and promising scholars to engage in the study of biodiversity conservation.

　　                             (By Wangjie, Biosafety Office/SEPA)