The 5^th International Barcode of Life Conference is successfully held in Kunming China from 27^th to 31^th October, 2013. The conference is sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the International Barcode of Life project (iBOL), and organized by the CAS Kunming Institute of Botany, CAS Kunming Institute of Zoology and the iBOL China National Committee.

Around 450 delegates from 43 countries or regions across the world, including researchers, students, government officials, and private sectors, attend this conference. A total of 24 plenary presentations and 139 parallel presentations were given in the conference, which provided an in-depth exposure to the latest advances in the research and applications of DNA barcoding, as well as a platform to discuss future directions of barcoding research and development. This year is the tenth anniversary of DNA barcoding. The theme of this conference is “Global Change and the Barcode of Life: Challenges and Opportunities", the conference aimed to provide a communication platform for DNA Barcoding research and practices, and to further promote worldwide DNA barcoding practice and biodiversity science.

A Kunming Declaration on the Promotion of DNA Barcoding and Biodiversity Science (attached) is signed and announced at the conference on 31^st October. Through the Declaration, an ad hoc governance committee will be formed to be tasked with establishing a proposed international coordinating organization. The organization will be formally launched at the 2015 Sixth International Barcode of Life Conference to promote the excellence in the science of barcoding of all domains of life.