A two day national seminar on Sustainable Use of Biological Resources with special theme Medicinal and Aromatic Plants had been jointly organized by Ecological Society (ECOS, Kathmandu), Institute of Forestry (Tribhuvan Universtiy, Pokhara) and Prithvi Narayan Campus (Tribhuvan University, Pokhara) from April 22-23, 2007 at Institute of Forestry, Pokhara. The Organizing Committee of the Seminar was chaired by Mr Ashok K. Mallik, Dean, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara.
Advisors and research associate of Biodiversity Research and Training Forum (BRTF) were actively involved in the organization of the seminar. Prof. AK Das and Prof. IC Dutta were in the Advisory Board and Mr. Bharat B Shrestha was involved as joint secretary of the Seminar of organizing committee.
The seminar was attended by 212 participants from a wide range of disciplines from phytochemistry, medicine, ecology, forestry, agriculture, plant breeding, fishery, pharmacognosy, genetics, invasion biology, etc. Participants and invited speakers were represented from universities (Tribhuvan University and Pokhara University), research institutions and laboratories under the Government of Nepal (National Academy of Science and Technology, National Agriculture Research Center, Fishery Research Division, National Forensic Science Laboratory, Department of Plant Resources), INGOs (ICIMOD and IUCN), NGOs (LI-BIRD, SAFE Concern Nepal), private commercial organizations, Community Based Organizations, etc. The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. Kamal Krishna Joshi, Chairman of University Grants Commission.

There were three key note addresses by Prof. Prasanta C. Bhowmik, Prof. Pramod K. Jha and Dr. Nirmal Bhattarai. In his key note address Prof. Prasanta C. Bhowmik of University of Massachusetts, USA, highlighted the challenges posed by invasive plant species to the conservation and managements of biological resources. Prof. Pramod K Jha of Tribhuvan University, Nepal, addressed the challenges and opportunities of sustainable uses of biological diversity for the National development. Dr. Nirmal Bhattarai of ICIMOD (International Center for Integrated Mountain Development) highlighted the past initiatives and future strategies of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Programme in Asia (MAPPA) for the development and management of medicinal and aromatic plant sector.

Altogether 117 papers including eleven invited lectures were presented during the seminar. The most outstanding feature of the seminar was the presentation of unique experiences by local community conservation leaders from different parts of the country. The community leaders were also felicitated during the seminar. Mr. Bhumi Raman Nepal, the awardees of Abrahm Award by WWF Nepal in 2006, shared his experiences and contribution to community forestry development in Dhading district and the surrounding areas in the last thirty years. Mr. Surya Prasad Adhikari of Lekhnath Municipality of Kaski district has been involved in rice breeding and organic farming. Mr. Adhikari highlighted his perception and contribution to conservation and improvements of local varieties of cultivated and wild rice, organic farming and sustainable uses of local biological resources. Mr. Roop Narayan Yadav of Siraha district shared experiences on On-farm Conservation of Genetic Resources. Mr Yadav and his team has been managing community seed bank, with the technical assistance from National Agriculture Research Council (NARC, Kathmandu) and Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD, Pokhara). Mr. Tatsuo Morimoto shared unique experiences of landscaping and cherry plantation in Japan and Nepal.
Organization of the National Seminar at Pokhara was financially supported by WWF Nepal, ICIMOD, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (Government of Nepal), World Vision International, National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), University Grants Commission, Pokhara University, etc. The seminar was third in the series of national seminars being organized by Ecological Society (ECOS) of Nepal in collaboration with local stakeholders at different parts of the country. Previously similar seminars were organized at Birjung in 2002 and Biratnagar in 2004.

Reported by
Bharat B Shrestha
Central Department of Botany
Tribhuvan Universtiy, Kathmandu
&
Research Associate
Biodiversity Research and Training Forum, Pokhara