Themes
Focal Theme
Biodiversity and Development: Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Policy-Making
Special Session
Biodiversity Conservation in Western Ghats-Status, Challenges and Opportunities
Themes
1.Biodiversity documentation / inventorisation
[Special focus on biodiversity informatics, beta and gamma diversity]
[Wild and cultivated- microbes, fungi, plants, horticulture crops (including agro-biodiversity, medicinal plants), animals (including fisheries, domesticated animals)]
2.Local extinctions – Case studies
[Special emphasis on genetic erosion and recorded local extinction of species of commercial value]
3.Biodiversity Vs. Development paradigms
[Specific case studies on impacts of dams, nuclear/thermal plants, GMOs, climate change, deforestation, etc on biodiversity; effectiveness of EIAs]
4.Innovations in taxonomy and conservation
[Including molecular taxonomy, cyber taxonomy, electronic data bases, conservation and restoration- Specific case studies]
5.Biodiversity and local communities
[Economic and social implications of biodiversity, poverty and biodiversity linkages, success stories involving communities including NREGS, EDCs, VSS, BMCs]
6.Indigenous Knowledge, Intellectual Property, Trade and Biopiracy
[Specific documentation/case studies on TK related to local cultivars, medicinal plants, fish; benefit sharing practices; violations/protection of IPR, illegal trade, etc]
7.Cultural, Spiritual and linguistic links of biodiversity
[Documentary evidences of cultural linkages of biodiversity, sacred practices and biodiversity conservation, spiritual dimensions of biodiversity, local languages and biodiversity; biodiversity heritage of India]
8.Effectiveness of existing legislations and policies related to biodiversity
[Documented case studies showing pitfalls in existing legislations with suggestions for amendments; critical analysis of existing policies]
9.Biodiversity Communication, Education and Public Awareness
[Specific case studies of successful awareness campaigns; ICT models; NGO success stories- case studies]
