Recognizing the importance of biological diversity, the first World Biodiversity Congress will be held on November 20-22, 2008 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The four-day event organized by the Century Foundation (India) will provide a forum for formulating and reviewing policies and programs that will result to more productive and sustainable biodiversity utilization and conservation. Among the topics in the technical sessions include: environmental biotechnology, biodiversity information management, management of land resources, and combating desertification. More information is available at http://www.upm.edu.my/WCB2008Thailand.pdf.