With the great support from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) of China, co-sponsored by the Center of Grassland Monitoring and Management , MOA and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the 2010 International Conference on Ophiocordyceps sinensis will be held in Xining, China from 8th to 10th June, 2010. As the Conference Chairman, I have the great privilege to invite you to attend the Conference.

The objectives of the Conference are to discuss ideas on Ophiocordyceps sinensis resource management, exchange experiences on regulating collection activities and market order, share scientific research results, strengthen international exchanges and cooperation, conserve bio-diversity, ensure a coordinated development of local society, economy and environment, and achieve a sustainable income growth of local farmers and herders.

At the Conference, participants will discuss laws and regulations of Ophiocordyceps sinensis trade and resource management, the inter-relationship between Ophiocordyceps sinensis resource and the environment, scientific advancements on Ophiocordyceps sinensis the R&D on technologies of Ophiocordyceps sinensis collection, packaging and derived products as well as their corresponding application, the impacts of Ophiocordyceps sinensis resource management on local economic development and farmers/herders' income, international Ophiocordyceps sinensis trade order, etc.

Meanwhile, as a parallel activity to the Conference, a specialized edition of China Grassland Journal will be edited and issued, both in Chinese and English. If you are interested in providing us with your paper (which shall not be ever published in any academic journals) on related topics, please send the abstract to liuqizheng@agri.gov.cn before March 1st, 2010.

For Conference registration and hotel information, please check China Grassland Net at http://www.grassland.gov.cn, or you can contact us directly with Mr. Liu Qizheng through 86-10-59194717 or liuqizheng@agri.gov.cn.

Yours sincerely,

Ma Youxiang

Conference Chairman

Director-General

 Center of Grassland Monitoring and Management

Ministry of Agriculture, China