A　scheme　for　the　region　of　interest　(ROI)　coding　of　3D　meshes　is　proposed　for　the　first　time.　The　ROI　is　encoded　with　higher　fidelity　than　the　rest　region,　and　the　＇priority＇　of　ROI　relative　to　the　rest　region　(background,　EG)　can　be　specified　by　encoder　or　decoder　(user).　Wavelet　transform　is　used　on　3D　mesh　and　zerotrees　are　adopted　to　organize　the　coefficients.　The　wavelet　coefficients　of　ROI　are　scaled　up　and　encoded　with　a　modified　set　partitioning　in　hierarchical　trees　(SPIHT)　algorithm.　In　additional,　a　fast　algorithm　is　proposed　for　creating　the　ROI　mask.　Once　the　quality　of　reconstructed　ROI　becomes　high　enough,　the　transmission　can　be　intermitted　and　much　transmission　bandwidth　and　storage　space　will　be　saved　consequently.　©　2004　IEEE.