The World Biodiversity Leadership Award is the highest international award specially established for the emerging disciplines of biodiversity in the world. 1995, American Gulf Foundation and Paul Foundation felt the importance of this new discipline. In order to promote the development of this discipline and better protect life on earth, they jointly initiated and organized 10 leading scientific research units in the field of biodiversity research to set up this scientific award. The 10 scientific research units jointly established by the two foundations include Harvard University, American Museum of Natural History, Yale University, Missouri Botanical Garden, Marine Biology Laboratory (Massachusetts), Los Angeles Museum of Natural History, Salk Institute of Biology, Santa Fe Institute, San Diego Zoological Society and Wildlife Conservation Society. All these units are in the forefront of the world in the field of biodiversity research. Therefore, the award has been widely concerned by the international community since its establishment.