The year 2020 marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Looking back over the past 80 years, the institute has experienced the initiation of Institute of Geography of China in Beibei, Chongqing in 1940, then the founding of Institute of Geography, CAS in 1953 and Commission for Integrated Survey of Natural Resources, CAS in 1956, and the final merger of the above two institutes into the IGSNRR in 1999. After the endeavour of three generations, IGSNRR innovates geography and resource sciences and has made contributions in different stages to the development of the country and the progress of human civilization. This paper commemorates the 80th anniversary of the IGSNRR by reviewing the development and progress of the institute over the past 80 years, summarizing the classic scientific research achievements and the major science and technology infrastructures, as well as looking forward to the future of IGSNRR.

Physical geography (PG) has always been the core discipline of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR, CAS) since its establishment in 1940. It aims to serve the grand needs of national development. PG has made significant scientific and technological achievements and progress in the fields of comprehensive physical geography, climatology, geomorphology, hydrology, soil geography, biogeography, chemical geography, etc. These achievements have set up the worldwide priority status of PG, and made great contributions to the scientific and technological innovation, regional sustainable economic and social development. This paper reviews the innovative development of PG in the IGSNRR, summarizes the academic achievements and landmark progress, and looks forward to the future development strategy. Four key points are presented including the interaction mechanism of land surface elements-process, the dynamics of land surface pattern, the comprehensive integration and simulation of process of land surface system, and the sustainable paradigm and regulation mechanism of orderly human activities of land surface system.

This study reviews the historical process of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the field of geographic information science. From the early survey and cartography research, to the creation of China's geographic information discipline and the establishment of the State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information Systems, the development of the institute represents the history of (i) the development of original geographic information theory with Chinese characteristics, (ii) independent research and development of world-class geographic information software, and (iii) geographic information providing solid scientific and technological support for major national strategies. Generally, the development of geographic information discipline was summarized from the aspects of cartography, geoscience remote sensing, geographic information science, geodata sharing, major technological breakthroughs and national strategic support. Finally, from the perspectives of geoscience knowledge graphs, geographic big data analysis, remote sensing artificial intelligence, geographic system simulation and knowledge services, we look forward to the development of new scientific paradigms in geographic science.

Over the past 70 years, resources science has been developed into a comprehensive disciplinary system from integrated surveys of natural resources. Recalling the development of resource science since the founding of China in 1949, it could be divided into four main research stages, namely, stage of early surveys of natural resources (1950-1965), stage of regional comprehensive scientific investigation and resources science research (1970s-1980s), stage of the formation and advancement of Chinese resources science disciplinary system (1990s-2000s), and the new development period of modern resources science (since the 21st century). This has promoted the development of comprehensive investigation of natural resources, and greatly influenced the formation and development of resources science in China. To meet the major needs of the ecological civilization and beautiful China, the resources science research is supposed to continue innovation efforts, enrich and develop the new knowledge, new thinking and new theory, to promote the development of the discipline.

Ecosystem ecology is the core content of ecosystem science in the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGNSRR). Our first mission is to develop techniques and methods of ecosystem monitoring and simulation, by which we explore the theories and pathways in solving eco-environmental issues at regional scales. Second, we monitor ecosystem changes, identify the dynamics and patterns, and advance the discipline developments of ecosystem ecology, biogeography ecology, global change ecology, and eco-informatics. Third, we serve for the national and regional ecological constructions by addressing issues related to global changes and regional sustainable developments. To meet national needs, we synthesize and innovate technique and modes of ecosystem management for typical regions of China, i.e. agricultural regions of northern China, hilly red soil forestry regions of southern China, agricultural and pastoral regions of the Tibetan Plateau and Loess Plateau. Utilizing these innovated management modes, we aim to solve fundamental problems in ecological construction and adapt to global changes, and facilitate science advance in regional ecosystem management. Our research directions comprise the following five fields: (1) network monitoring, simulation and ecosystem data management; (2) ecosystem structure, process and function; (3) ecosystem pattern and the underlying mechanism; (4) ecosystem responses and adaptation to global change; (5) ecosystem management and ecosystem services. Centered around the above five foci research directions, we systematically explore theories of ecosystem ecology and their applications, through which we position our research in frontier lines of China and the world.

The Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR, CAS) is one of the research institutes that carried out the earliest regional agricultural research in China. Based on the original research laboratory on agricultural geography, under the leadership of Prof. Wu Chuanjun and Prof. Deng Jingzhong, the institute always followed the purpose of "meeting the requirements of the state, and establishing subjects by task". Based on the periodic and regional characteristics of agricultural production and development and taking full advantages of comprehensiveness and regionality of geography, it completed a series of prospective, macroscopic, strategic and leading regional agricultural research achievements, including the preliminary opinions on national agricultural regionalization, Xinjiang agricultural regionalization, etc., Those achievements have becomes classic references for regional agricultural research and provided decision support for agricultural macro-control at national and local levels. Carrying on 80 years of experience in theoretical exploration, the IGSNRR, will has constantly expanded and enriched the connotation and value of regional agricultural research based on the existing research on agricultural resources investigation and planning, agricultural ecological hydrology and climate, food production and security, cultivated land protection and management, agricultural economic management and policy innovation, sustainable development of rural regional system, etc. In addition, it will undertake an important task of serving the formulation and implementation of national strategies and leading the innovation and development of basic disciplines.