Punjab Newspaper

A 2-day IUFRO-SPDC sponsored training workshop on “Working Effectively at the Interface of Forest Science and Forest Policy” for mid-career /budding and interested ecologists from developing countries is being organized by organized by the Department of Botany in collaboration with Dayanand National Academy of Environmental Sciences in the Golden Jubilee Hall from March 14 to 15, 2009.


In this workshop, 23 foreign participants from 11 countries are participating. Dr Michael Kleine, Coordinator IUFRO-SPDC, Dr Appanaha from FAO, Thailand and Dr Promode Kant, Director, Amity Institute of Global Warming and Ecological Studies and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, will be the Key Resource persons of the training workshop.
The need for sound scientific information in the development of public environmental and forest-related policies at the local, national and international levels has grown significantly in recent years. Although it is commonly accepted that scientific information is indispensable for policy and management, linking substantive knowledge and authoritative political decision-making is a chronically difficult task. The training workshop therefore aims at:
Providing concepts and methods to researchers on how to plan, conduct, and organize research activities so that research results can more quickly and easily be transformed into usable information for problem-solving and policy-making;’ Explaining key aspects of science-policy interactions, and best practices for work at the science-policy interface in the context of international, national and local policy processes. Presenting a variety of case studies mainly dealing with forest-related forest management issues in Asia and the Pacific region. Conducting hands-on exercises in working groups with focus on the formulation of research processes that adequately incorporate elements of science-policy interfacing. The training is based on the work of international experts convened by IUFRO in its Task Force on the Science-Policy Interface.
The training workshop will bring together early- and mid-career scientists from developing countries in Asia who wish to increase the impact of their scientific work on policy making (i.e., research, advocacy, supervision etc.) through adequate contribution of research results and scientific knowledge to policy-making processes. In the context of the conference theme on invasive species this is of particular importance. The threat by invasive species to biodiversity and environmental services in many regions is a major concern to the science community and policy makers alike. Besides generating scientific information of high standard related to plant invasion and forest ecology, it is equally important to adequately inform policy levels as well as interact with policy makers so as to effectively shape regulatory and economic framework conditions for preventing irreversible damage to the environment.
Man by nature likes exotics. Resultantly, introduction of the alien ornamentals, trees and food plants had been his interest since centuries. However, because of fast pace of development and trade becoming increasingly globalized, the trans-boundary movement of species from their place of origin to alien regions is escalating and is expected to continue in the coming decades. Plant species, native or exotic, that invade and establish their own kingdom outgrowing the native vegetation, often lead to negative economic, environmental, and social impacts. In native area the spread of these species, because of ecological reasons remain under check compared to when they go to alien areas. Many of the invasive alien species, often threaten the health and integrity of our terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
The ecological impacts of invasive species, in particular alien plants, on forest floors have added to the worry of researchers, managers, and policy makers the world over. The real challenge before man is to control their spread for meeting the objectives of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and save the global ecology from destruction. Perhaps for such reasons, Invasive Alien Species has been addressed under Article 8(h) of the CBD. This being a priority area demanding policy decisions and focus of all societies, CBD has declared to devote the year 2009 to the theme of Plant Invasion.
Today, plant invasion by especially aliens has attained among the top thrusts of ecologists, primarily because of multifarious damages it causes to structure, function and integrity of ecosystem. Thereby, it minimizes the support for native flora and fauna and the provision of ecosystem services that directly benefit humans. However, within the field of Ecology, surprisingly enough, the number of workers interested in invasion studies in aquatic (fresh or marine waters) and insects are more that those of terrestrial plants. The dimensions and nature of the issue is such that no individual or a nation alone can combat the threat. The world at large will have to join hands to tackle the problem collectively as well as locally. Since alien species do not recognize political boundaries, we will have to involve neighbouring countries and also gain from the rich experiences of international community.
In 2005, in the XXII IUFRO World Forestry Congress held in Brisbane, we had organized a symposium on Invasive Plants in Forest Ecosystems. During the business meeting of the IUFRO working Party 8.02.04 (Ecology of Alien Invasive) and 4.02.02 (Multipurpose Inventories), it was resolved to organize a Conference on the theme with a focus on tropical forests where the threat to biodiversity is relatively more. The task of organizing the meet was accepted by the Coordinators of the international working party. We were supposed to organize this meet in October-November 2008. For some reasons, it had to be postponed by 3-4 months. In the mean time, as an outcome of the Brisbane Symposium, we could organize and bring out a book on “Invasive Plants and Forest Ecosystems (2009)” published by CRC Press of Taylor and Francis, USA. As per the recommendations accepted by the IUFRO working groups 8.02.04 and 4.02.02, we have attempted to organize this 3-day international conference Plant Invasion and Forest Ecology: Concerns and Solutions from March 16 to 18, 2009 at Panjab University, Chandigarh. The international community of plant scientists is expected to discuss the techniques and approaches being adopted by them in their respective areas. Invasive ecologists from different parts of India and abroad and scientists working on different Invasive Alien Plant Species are assembling in this meet for a brain-storming discussion. The basic purpose is to prepare a road map and mode of effectively combating the increasing threat of invasive aliens in India and adjoining countries with a clear aim of saving the existing biodiversity treasure of the region and thus conserving the ecology and consequential economy. It is proposed to frame guidelines in terms of invasive Alien Plant Species in Indian subcontinent to address the following issues according to Prof. R.K. Kohli, Dept. of Botany, P.U.:
(a) Status of Invasive Alien Plant Species in India, their Mapping & Modeling;
Identify the broad areas of their richness and threat of spread,
(b) Listing the potential IAS
(c) Early Detection & Rapid Response
(d) Ecological and Socio- Economic Impacts
(e) Non-native Invasion Success: Ecological theories
(f) Pathways of Invasion and spread
(g) Tools and mechanisms of invasion control
(h) Management of Invasive Species
(i) Capacity building, Policies & Legislation
(j) Education and Extension Programs
(k) Prepare protocols for checking / controlling their spread keeping in mind
the CBD and the Indian Biodiversity Act 2002.