AFTER years of expectation and preparation, the XIX International Botanical Congress (IBC) is finally raising its curtains to welcome attendees from all around the world to its opening ceremony this morning.

As of today, 4,082 people had registered to attend the IBC, including 2,966 Chinese and 1,116 visitors from 72 countries and regions.

Known as the Olympics of botany, the IBC is a grand academic gathering for botanical scientists showcasing a diverse variety of exhibitions.

This year’s IBC, which is the first held in China, will serve as a platform for scientists to share their latest findings and research. There will also be 49 satellite meetings during the Congress.

The satellite meetings have attracted a number of renowned international organizations, including the International Association of Botanical and Mycological Societies, International Association for Plant Taxonomy, International Association of Botanic Gardens, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, International Association of Bryologists, International Organization of Paleobotany and the Botanical Society of America.

International press and botanical organizations, including Oxford University Press, Wiley Press, Taylor & Francis Press and Plant Gateway have taken this opportunity to organize meet-ups and lectures featuring authors of botanical books.

Additionally, the organizing committee has arranged five scientific tours of China, to provide a convenient means for global delegates to get an overview of the diversity of plants in China and a platform for Chinese scientists to seek cooperation with their international counterparts.

The Congress, guided by a resolution, will adopt the “Shenzhen Code,” which was drafted by a committee comprising well-known experts from home and abroad. The code will guide future scientific studies of plants and express China’s social and economic concerns and responsibilities regarding plants.

In recent years, China has been attaching increasing importance to the development of the plant sciences and has made great efforts to protect biodiversity. China has established a sound legal and regulatory system to protect biodiversity and is also an active player in vital international conventions concerning biodiversity.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of nature reserves have been established. By the end of 2015, China had established a total of 2,740 nature reserves covering an area of 1,470,000 square kilometers, which accounts for 14.8 percent of the country’s total territory.

Since Shenzhen’s initial bid to host the Congress in July 2011, the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC and the Shenzhen Municipal Government have placed great importance on preparations for the Congress by including it in its top agenda.

The “Shenzhen International Award in Plant Sciences,” which was jointly initiated by the Botanical Society of China, the Shenzhen Municipal Government and the Organizing Committee of the IBC 2017, will be announced at successive meetings of the International Botanical Congress, starting in Shenzhen.

The original 10 million yuan (US$1.48 million) fund for the award was donated by the Shenzhen Tiehan Ecological Charity Foundation. The award is intended to recognize scientists who have conducted breakthrough research in both basic and applied plant sciences and whose outstanding contributions have impacted people’s understanding of the plant world.

A number of Shenzhen scientists will demonstrate their expertise during the upcoming Congress. Yang Huanming will deliver a public lecture as a specially invited lecturer at the Congress. Yang is the chairman and co-founder of BGI, a fellow of the ChineseAcademy of Sciences and a fellow of academies in the U.S. and other countries. Dr. Xu Xun, executive director of the China National Genebank, will deliver a keynote lecture, and a number of experts in the plant sciences in Shenzhen will chair eight symposia and deliver 20 special reports.

The Congress will encourage more international organizations to settle in Shenzhen. The International Association for Plant Taxonomy has made plans to set up its Asia-Pacific office in Shenzhen. After the Congress, official procedures will begin.

A memorial park for the IBC 2017 will be built by the Futian Mangrove Park.

(Zhang Qian)