Abstract:A group of biologists in Chinese Academy of Sciences introduced biodiversity concept,research status and trends to China in early 1980s,which initiated and promoted biodiversity research in China.The current paper reviewed the achievements in the past 20 years in this field.Future research priorities for the academy were proposed as follows.(1)bio-inventory and threatened status assessment on biodiversity in China with a special focus on facilitating the compilation of biota including Fauna Sinica,Flora Sporophyta Sinica,Flora of China;(2)Adaptation and mitigation of biodiversity to climate change;(3)Conservation and sustainable use of bio-resources and application of DNA barcoding;(4)Environmental effects of invasive alien species and transgenic plants;(5)Biodiversity and ecosystem function;(6) Strategies on biodiversity conservation,restoration and rehabilitation.Establishment and improvement of the following support facilities should be enhanced:(1) China biodiversity monitoring and conservation research network;(2)Scientific botanical garden network;(3) High flux troughput system for bio-resource screening;(4)e-science infrastructure and China biodiversity information facility;(5) Key laboratories and a research center for biodiversity science at the academy level.