NOTE:Please indicate oral/poster presentation and name of the presenting author; Poster size: 80x90cm

Welcome

Dear Participants and distinguished guests:

It is our immense pleasure and honour to welcome you to the National Symposium on Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Man: Interdependence and Future Challenges. Our socio -economic conditions largely depends upon the conservation, management and sustainable use of our bio-resources particularly our biodiversity. Along with its vast territory, ancient and varied geomorphology, hydrology, and climate, the Indian subcontinent has myriad of ecosystems and habitats, which supports colossal biodiversity. Inadequate ex ante consideration of environmental aspects, in the past, led to the degradation of ecosystems or fragmentation habitats in many cases. This altered many ecosystems to uninhabitable which resulted in disappearance/ extinction of many species. It should be noted here that many more species have not been known to human being yet, such species especially in unexplored (hidden/subterranean) habitats are day by day getting extinct without even being noticed. Therefore we need serious discussions, healthy deliberations and meaningful decisions towards discovery of new species from unexplored habitats and also conservation of our known biodiversity. This requires multidimensional and global approaches including ecological; orgasmic, behavioral, studies and also applying recent discoveries in biotechnology.

Therefore this symposium is unique as it is our endeavor to bridge the gap by bringing scientists of both schools (organism and sub-organismic; morphological and molecular taxonomy) at one platform. The thematic areas of this symposium were decided last year when entire world was celebrating the great naturalist, Charles Darwin’s bicentenary birth year. Incidentally United Nations declared this year (IYB 2010) as International Year of Biodiversity. We wish to commemorate the same with full enthusiasm.

This National Symposium on Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Man: Interdependence and Future Challenges has got overwhelming responses from all over the country and also from our collaborators in abroad ever since the announcement was made. However due to our limitations we have not been able to accommodate all interested candidates. The Organizing Committee has worked hard to bring-forth an interesting and versatile program including six sessions, cultural events and an innovative poster advertising.

There are invited and plenary lectures from eminent scientists and environmentalists. We are thankful to Prof T. R. Rao and Prof J-S Hwang for accepting our requests to deliver the Key -Note and special invited lectures on the relevant topic. We are eager to learn from experiences of all participants.
We invite you to enjoy a three-day of hard work and fun.

Please feel free to contact any member of the organizing committee or the conference secretariat if you have any difficulty while your stay in Lansdowne.

Thanking you

S K Katiyar Convener and Chief organizing Secretary		Ram Kumar Organizing secretary (out station)

Introduction

Global Warming and environmental threats have challenged the basic human survival on this earth. The population explosion coupled with evil effects of globalisation and irreparable damages of environment have damaged the world economic order. The sea level tends to rise by 20 feet. In India, not less than 20% of coastal areas have been exposed to the frequent threats by the rising sea. It is estimated that not less than a million species would be vanished from the earth by 2050. Although a good number of International Conventions have been organized to influence formulation of policy at national level for bringing balance between social well-being and eco system through Sustainable Development approach, a very little achievement has been made in this direction. The Sustainable Development is a major concern for Government, Civil society organizations and corporate world these days. The issues of Sustainable Development are numerous and complex. There is a wide gap between macro level policy and micro level issues and needs. A very little attempt has been made to understand the vision of the stakeholders and assess the time-tested technologies, values and mechanisms of conserving, regenerating and preserving the ecosystem. The Global Summit seeks to examine the ways in which the stakeholders and civil society organizations can participate in planning process with the planners and experts and how their indigenous time tested mechanism for ensuring equilibrium between social well being and eco health would be renewed at macro scale.

This National symposium is being organized to involve scientists and stake holders for deliberations on themes related to biodiversity and biotechnology.
We invite scientists, managers, technologists, educators and all those interested in the conservation of biodiversity to participate in the symposium where
we can learn from your experiences and share ours with you. Please come and enjoy our salubrious weather and pristine environment.

Looking forward to welcome you in Lansdowne.
Dr. S. K. KATIYAR
Dr. RAM KUMAR

Date and Venue:

Date: 26-28 March 2010

Lansdowne, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

Lansdowne – The venue

Lansdowne, one of the quietest hill stations of India, close to nature getaway still stands preserved and protected from the hustle-bustle of the city crowd. The roads are well made for any mode of transportation. It is situated at an altitude of 1,700mts above sea level surrounded with thick oak and blue pine forests in Uttarakhand state. It is the nearest hill station from Delhi and is approachable by either Road or Train from any part of India.

Climate: The weather during March and April is very pleasant in Lansdowne. The temperature in Lansdowne varies from 15-22°C. Light warm cloths are required. The period is most suitable for visiting Lansdowne.
The nearest railway station: Kotdwara at a distance of 41 km. ; The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun at a distance of 152 km via Kotdwara- Haridwar road
Distance from Delhi: 230 KM

Note: Travel will be arranged from Delhi and from the nearest Railway station on request.

THEME

Biodiversity – Biotechnology: Gateway to Discoveries, Sustainable Utilization and Wealth Creation. Key areas to be addressed:

Biodiversity
Biotechnology
Bioremediation
Biofilms in Ecology and Medicine
Environmental impact assessment
Environmental management
Environmental legislation & policy
Integrated territorial and environmental risk analysis
Ecosystems analysis, protection and remediation
Social and cultural issues
Environmental economics
Sustainable Development

OBJECTIVES

To highlight and create awareness on the value of biodiversity, its research, development and commercialization
To inform and update participants on policies and laws relevant to biodiversity, traditional knowledge, access and benefit sharing, intellectual property and genetic resources
To stimulate the exchange of ideas and interaction between stakeholders in areas of biodiversity, natural products and biotechnology

TARGET AUDIENCE

This National Symposium targets all those involved in areas of biodiversity, biotechnology related legislation, natural products discovery and industries, including policy makers, key government officials from relevant agencies, scientists, researchers, post graduate students, traditional knowledge stakeholders, the legal fraternity, and industry players.