BACKGROUND
Dependency of human beings
on plant resources are well known since ages. India is a rich country in terms
of plant resources and holds high degree of endemism due to its varied edaphic,
climatic and topographic conditions. These plant resources required to be
identified, documented, conserved and used in sustainable manner by the human
beings.
Undoubtedly, Himalayan
region incl. North-east Indian Hills harbours a wide range of vegetation right
from grassland, meadows, marshes, swamps, shrub forest, mixed deciduous forest,
humid evergreen forest, temperate and alpine vegetation. The area is part of
two biodiversity hotspots with various Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese elements
which show high degree of endemism and > 50% flora are known from this
region alone in the country.
Himalayan Ecosystems are
facing several challenges such as over-exploitation of natural resources,
deforestation, mining, shifting cultivation habitat destruction and other
development pressures. To address these issues, it becomes imperative to focus
on improving the ecosystem services through CSR mechanism, while planning
executing economic development in Himalayan region. R&D centers and
industries of the region together may develop long term linkage to bring about
such innovation and more essentially the bio-resources of the region is
to be documented in line with global efforts that become mandatory after the
CBD. Also the researchers working in this discipline face numerous challenges
like familiarity with changing techniques, scanty funding and pressure to
comply the objectives,
The present National
Seminar is therefore, designed to provide a common platform for sharing and
disseminating current knowledge on plant diversity of North-east Indian Hills
with the aim to fill the gaps of knowledge desired for the formulation of
effective conservation strategies and sustainable uses of the natural resources
in the region.
MAJOR THEMES OF THE
SEMINAR
• Floristics and
Phytodiversity assessment
• Ecosystem services
and corporate social responsibilities
• Conservation
of significant species and documentation
• Traditional
knowledge and ethnobotany
• Modern approaches
for understanding phytodiversity
• Medicinal plants
and their sustainable utilisation
ABOUT BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
Botanical Survey of India
is the nodal research organisation under Ministry of Environment, Forest &
Climate Change, Government of India. It was established in 1890 with the
objective of exploring the plant resources of the country and identifying plant
species with economic value. In 1954, the Government reorganized the BSI with
the objectives of (1) undertaking intensive floristic surveys and collecting
accurate and detailed information on the occurrence, distribution, ecology and
economic utility of plants in the country; (2) collecting, identifying and
distributing materials that may be of use to educational and research
institutions; (3) serving as repository of the authentic collections in well
planned herbaria and documenting plant resources in the form of local,
district, state and national flora.
EASTERN REGIONAL CENTRE
The Eastern Regional
Centre, BSI was established on 1st April 1956, initially with the transfer of
ca. 45,000 herbarium specimens kept in the then Assam Forest Herbarium. This
centre is concerned with exploration and inventory of the flora of North-East
India comprising the States of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and
Tripura (also Arunachal Pradesh till JULY, 1977) spreaded in area about
1,71,330 sq. km including 3 biosphere reserves, 11 national parks and 35
wildlife sanctuaries and 04 tiger reserves.
The Herbarium (acronym
ASSAM) holds c. 2,60,000 herbarium specimens of flowering plants and c. 11,000
specimens of cryptogams. It also accommodates c. 600 type specimens related to
more than 130 new species described by researchers of this centre. Since its
establishment the centre has accomplished more than 270 field explorations,
five expeditions to different parts of North East India. The results are
published in form of 19 books, more than 700 research papers, 81 red data
sheets.
The centre is well
equipped with scanning electron microscope, HPLC and molecular laboratory. The
associated botanical garden at Barapani provides ex-situ conservation of more
than 800 plant species including several interesting and threatened ones.
Tissue Culture Laboratory situated at this centre is engaged for rapid mass
propagation of wild ornamentals, medicinal, economical and poorly known
species of NE India.
CALL FOR ABSTRACT
Abstracts of original
research are invited for both oral and poster presentations, which should reach
us latest by December 31st 2017 for inclusion in the souvenir.
The abstract should be typed in Times New Roman (12 font) with double spacing
limited to 300 words. This must be e-mailed as "MS Word" file only
to: seminarbsierc2018@qmail.com
The abstract should be
provided with a title, name of the author(s) with affiliation(s), category
(oral/poster) and theme area covered. The corresponding author and the presenting
author must be indicated along with their email address and contact number. The
author(s) of the selected abstracts will be intimated about the category
(oral/poster) of their presentation by January 15, 2018.
Registration Fee
Delegates:`
3000; Accompanying person: ` 2000;
Student: ` 2000; Spot registration: ` 4000.
Registered delegates shall
be provided conference kit and lunch during seminar. Special accommodation can
be arranged on request (latest by 30 January, 2018) with advance payment., in
hotels, guest house etc. Selective funding may be provided to promising young
researchers and students.
ABOUT SHILLONG
Shillong is one of the
most beautiful hill station in the northeastern India, and is the capital city
of Meghalaya. It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district and is
situated at an average altitude 1,496 m asl. It is said that the rolling hills
around the town reminded the European settlers of Scotland. Hence, they would
also refer to it as the "Scotland of the East“ The Elephant Falls, Lady
Hydari Park, Wards Lake, Shillong Golf Course, Motphran, Shillong Peak, Don
Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures:, Bishop and Beadon Falls, Sweet
Falls, Crinoline Falls are some tourists interest places in and around
the city. Because of the natural beauty in nearby locations like
Cherrapunjee, Mawsynram, Pynursla, Mawlyngnong, Smit etc., and easy access,
it is the most favourite destination of the tourist in Northeast India.
Climate in March: Temperature varies between 8 and 22 degrees centigrade with intermittent showers. Warm clothing is required.
HOW TO REACH
AIR: Umroi is the nearest
airport. It is about 30 kms and approximately 1 hours drive to Main
city.
Guwahati is another nearby airport have frequent flights which is about 140 kms, takes 4 hours drive to reach Shillong. Prepaid taxis are available for Shillong at the airport.
Guwahati is another nearby airport have frequent flights which is about 140 kms, takes 4 hours drive to reach Shillong. Prepaid taxis are available for Shillong at the airport.
Rail: Guwahati is the nearest railway station. Prepaid and shared taxis are available just outside the station.
