The Organizing Committee, representing the relevant governmental agencies and scientific institutions, cordially invite you to participate in the “12th Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems” held in Shenyang, China in August 16-20, 2015. This symposium follows the highly successful 11th Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems held in 2012 in Kwangju, Korea, and will focus on a series of scientific sessions and symposia to display new research progress relating the Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems. The symposium is sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Palaeontological Society of China (PSC), UNESCO-IUGS Int’l Geoscience Program (IGCP), and China Fossil Protection Foundation (CFPF). The symposium is co-organized by Shenyang Normal University, Paleontological Museum of Liaoning, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS, China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Jilin University, China. Mesozoic (252-66 Ma), a very important era in Earth history, witnessed the breakup of the Pangaea, the geo-/bio- events across the Triassic/Jurassic, the global warming Cretaceous, and ending in the K-Pg boundary, as well as the appearance and evolution of dinosaurs, mammals and angiosperms. The study of Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems is very significant for exploring the origin and early evolution of birds, mammals and angiosperms, even of the reason for the dinosaur extinction. The study would also be beneficial for searching the fossil fuels (oil, coal, etc.) and protections of the fossils and other natural heritages in the world. China, especially the Northeast China, is rich in Mesozoic geo- and biological records, including the well-known Early Cretaceous Jehol biota and Jurassic Yanliao biota, which has greatly contributed to the study of the origin and evolution of Mesozoic organisms. They have provided fresh knowledge to scientists for better understanding of the terrestrial ecosystems in deep time, and put forward also the fossil protection efforts. MTE-12 will provide an excellent opportunity for geoscientists in multidiscipline to discuss the Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems, followed by the field excursions to the western Liaoning, including Beipiao (the sites of Sinosauripteryx, and the earliest known angiosperm Archaefructus) and Jianchang (the site of the oldest known feathered dinosaur Achiornis), to give a memorable experience on the paleoecosystem records. In the meantime, the 3rd Int'l Workshop of IGCP 608 will be held in Shenyang, accompanied with the MTE-12. Please see the attached file below (p.7-9) for the notice of the workshop. Please join us in the summer of 2015 for the MTE-12 in the historical city of Shenyang, NE China for a most exciting scientific gathering. We hope to see you all at the Opening Ceremony!