On March 13, 2023, the Innovation Group on Plant Diversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, held its kick-off meeting.

At the meeting, ZHUO Junchen, deputy director of IAE, said about the background and research layout of the innovation groups of IAE, and emphasized the difference in operation and management mode between the innovation groups and the conventional research teams. He encouraged members of the plant diversity conservation and sustainable use innovation group to seize opportunity (e.g., the program for the construction of Shenyang National Botanical Garden) to work together to strengthen discipline planning and talent cultivation, and strive to achieve greater achievements to meet the requirements of the country's strategic tasks.

Professor HE Xingyuan, chief scientist, analyzed the problems and challenges with regard to each innovation group' current development situation. Five researchers, Yuan Haisheng, Hao Guangyou, Yu Jinghua, Chen Wei and Xu Sheng, made their own presentation in terms of biodiversity, plant physiological ecology, plant resource development and utilization, ex situ plant protection, and urban forest, respectively. 

Afterwards, Wang Xugao put forward suggestions on the innovation group's future planning, the cultivation of new research directions, and the pursuit of new major projects. Fu Bin, deputy head of S&T Division introduced in detail the talent policies at all levels. Finally, deputy director Zhuo Junchen made a concluding speech.