Events

II Conference of the Western Ghats Forum – ‘Integrating Science and Management of Biodiversity in the Western Ghats’, December 1 & 2, 2005

By  |  2005/11/22 13:39 Posted in Events  |  Comments Off

The Second Conference of the Western Ghats Forum is scheduled for December 1 & 2, 2005. The Conference will be hosted by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) and the venue will be the State Forest Service College, Coimbatore 641 002.

The title of the Conference is ‘Integrating Science and Management of Biodiversity in the Western Ghats’. The Conference has been structured to include 7 symposia viz, Pollination Services, Invertebrates and Conservation Management, Water and Forests, Policy Imperatives for the Western Ghats, Species recovery and Restoration, Conservation and Livelihoods, Conservation and Education and Forest Management.

Papers are hereby invited for the Conference. One-page abstracts may be sent to the Director SACON electronically, clearly indicating the relevant symposium not later than October 21, 2005. The registration fee for participation/paper presentation in the Conference is Rs 500/- and Rs 200/- per person for non-students and students respectively.

I Conference, September 22-24, 2003

By  |  2003/09/12 10:50 Posted in Events  |  Comments Off

Summary of the
Proceedings of the first National Conference of the Western Ghats Forum

The first National Conference of the Western Ghats Forum (WGF) was held in September (23-25) 2003 at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) in Bangalore. Over 100 scientists, foresters, amateur naturalists and environmental activists took part in the three-day conference. Dr S N Rai, PCCF Karnataka, inaugurated the conference. The theme of the conference was addressed effectively through 3 sub-themes viz.

  • Ecosystems, communities and species (Chair Dr S Balaji IFS)
  • Land use, people, economics and trade (Chair Dr P S Ramakrishnan)
  • Policies, law, awareness and communication (Chair Dr V Ramakantha IFS)

Further, through 8 Round Table discussions the following specific issues were reviewed.

  • Systematics and Taxonomy (Lead Dr P T Cherian)
  • Trade (Lead Dr Ashok Kumar)
  • Inventory and Monitoring (Lead Dr V S Vijayan)
  • Conservation strategies (Lead Dr V S Vijayan)
  • Economic value of biodiversity (Lead Dr K K Ninan)
  • Agrobiodiversity (Lead Dr N Anil Kumar)
  • Mining (Lead Mr Leo Saldanha)
  • Livestock and animal husbandry (Lead Dr S A Pasha and Dr S Paulraj IFS)

Plenary talks

1 Exotic flora of the WG P S Ramakrishnan
2 Conservation and livelihoods: what is at stake? Kamal Bawa
3 Impact of climate change R Sukumar
4 WG Databases and information exchange K N Ganeshaiah and R Uma Shaanker

Following is a summary of the proceedings highlighting the key points that emerged during the three days of the conference.

Introduction
(Kamal Bawa)

Dr Kamal Bawa introduced the scope of the WGF to the participants. The WGF is meant to be a ‘platform’ for 1) exchange of ideas and information, 2) addressing critical and complex issues related to conservation of biodiversity and human welfare and 3) networking the various stakeholders.

The WGF aims to adopt the following guiding principles that

  • Ensure ecological security (conservation of biodiversity and cultural identity/diversity)
  • Recognise and reaffirm the value of biodiversity
  • Ensure livelihood security
  • Ensure social justice

Dr Kamal Bawa justified the need for a WGF as follows:

  • The WG are part of a vast landscape
  • There are complex problems (conservation, management and socio-economic)
  • A multitude of organisations are involved in research and development
  • There is inadequate interaction between these organisations and other stakeholders and
  • There is a felt absence of concerted action.

The role of the WGF could be in

  • Promoting communication
  • Providing a platform to address complex and macro-level issues
  • Raising the profile of the WG (emphasising its global position as a biodiversity hotspot for example)
  • Involving civil society/bringing together multiple stakeholders and
  • Seeking resources for research, conservation and management of the WG

Networking could facilitate the following:

  • Sharing of research findings
  • Exchange of information
  • Field studies
  • Conservation education
  • Policy studies
  • Independent investigations
  • Collaborations
  • Development of new ideas

Dr Bawa finally outlined the way in which the WGF could operate. The outline was left open for suggestions and improvement during the 3 days of the conference. Suggestions were invited on the following:

  • Whether the WGF be a registered body
  • Whether government institutions also be members of the Forum
  • What could be the structure and function of the Steering Committee
  • What could be the structure, role and location of the Secretariat
  • Whether there is a need for other committees and panels

Immediate activities of the WGF that were envisaged include

  • Organising conferences
  • Drafting working papers/white papers on specific issues
  • Launching a newsletter
  • Launching a Website