International Conference on Biodiversity, Livelihood and Climate Change in the Himalayas

Celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity 2010, the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, and the Ministry of Environment, Government of Nepal, are jointly organizing an International Conference on “Biodiversity, Livelihood and Climate Change in the Himalayas, ICBLCC-2010”, in Kathmandu, Nepal from December 12-14, 2010. The conference will be organized in collaboration with the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), WWF Nepal, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), and University of Bergen (Norway), and supported by Nepal Academy of Science & Technology (NAST), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), University Grants Commission (UGC) Nepal, and Norwegian Research Council (NRC).

Background

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms, the genetic diversity they contain, and the assemblages they form. The direct benefits of biodiversity to humanity are myriad: we derive our food, fuel, fiber, medicines and raw materials for a host of manufacturing processes from this variety of organisms. Beyond direct values, they provide ecological services and play an important role in maintaining Earth’s environmental processes. Their ethical and aesthetic values are less quantifiable; they are nevertheless real and pervasive.

The Himalaya, stretching over 4,000 km, is a singular entity of immense physical dimension. Owing to its extreme topographic and climatic variability, the Himalaya contains rich biological diversity. It occupies approximately 0.3% of the global area, and constitutes nearly 10% of the world flora. The region contains four biodiversity hotspots, 60 eco-regions, 488 protected areas, 1,106 Important Bird Areas (IBAs), and 53 Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in addition to rich agro-biodiversity and wild relatives of crops. The Himalayan region, however, also faces a high degree of threats, including climate change.

There is general agreement among the scientific community that maintenance of natural levels of biodiversity is necessary for proper functioning and provision of sound ecosystem services. A major threat to biodiversity is habitat loss and fragmentation. In addition to climate change, inadequate data and funds, weak institutional set-up and management, unsustainable harvesting and illegal tradeof resources are the challenges to attain the goals of biodiversity conservation.

Marking the International Year of Biodiversity 2010, the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, and the Ministry of Environment, Government of Nepal, are jointly organizing anInternational Conference on “Biodiversity, Livelihood and Climate Change in the Himalayas, ICBLCC-2010”, in Kathmandu, Nepal from December 12-14, 2010. The conference will be organized in collaboration with the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), WWF Nepal, National Trust for Nature Conservation, and University of Bergen (Norway), and supported by Nepal Academy of Science & Technology, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, University Grants Commission (Nepal) and Norwegian Research Council.

The ICBLCC-2010 is expected to discuss issues related to biodiversity and climate change as well as cross-sectoral issues with particular emphasis on natural resources of the Himalayan region. The conference will also assess achievements on the Convention on Biological Diversity 2010 target to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss and an international regime on access and benefit sharing at regional and national levels.

Conference Sessions

1. Biodiversity assessment and conservation

• Long-term ecological research (LTER) and biodiversity conservation
• Biodiversity and biogeography
• Biodiversity at gene, species and ecosystem levels
• Forest biodiversity
• Protected areas
• Wetlands and invasive species
• Transboundary corridors and issues

2. Biodiversity resources and livelihoods

• Sustainable use of biological resources
• Agricultural biodiversity
• Ecotourism and biodiversity conservation
• Genetic resources
• Environmental goods and services, and PES schemes
• NTFPs, traditional knowledge and community development

3. Climate change impacts on land-use, agriculture, and vegetation

• Socio-economic and climate change impacts on agriculture
• Risks/ vulnerability associated with climate change
• Adaptations/ mitigation strategies
• Ecological modeling under climate change scenarios
• Habitat loss and fragmentations
• Sustainable management of Ecosystem services

4. Biodiversity policy and law

• Multilateral/ bilateral international treates/agreements, and conventions
• Regional, national and customary laws Intellectual
• Property Rights/ Patent Rights
• Access to Genetic resources and benefit sharing
• Biosafety and biosecurity

Special symposia

• Biodiversity strategy of Nepal and CBD 2010 target and beyond (Convenor: Dr. KC Paudel, Nepal)
• Landscape Conservation Initiative (Convenor: Dr. KP Oli, Nepal)
• Floras of the Himalayan region (Convenor: Dr. Mark Watson, UK)
• Climate change and REDD (Convenor: WWF Nepal)

Important Deadlines

• First circular of conference April 30, 2010
• Submission of pre-registration form July 31, 2010
• Submission of abstract August 31, 2010
• Second and final circular August 31, 2010 
• Registration (normal rate) October 31, 2010
• Registration (after November 1, with late fee)
• On-the-spot registration
• Note: We highly appreciate submission of full papers by October 31, 2010, so as to publish in the journal Botanica Orientalis (Special Issue 2010).

Passport and Visa: Tourists who visit Nepal must hold valid passports and visas. All non-Nepalese can obtain Nepal visa upon arrival at Kathmandu airport or at border immigration offices (if you are entering via surface travel). Visa fee: Multiple entry fee (for 15 days) = US$ 25. 

Weather Information: The weather is cold, and usually clear, throughout the day in December. The mean maximum temperature is 17.9°C, and minimum temperature is about 2°C. 

Language: The language of the conference is English.

Contact:

Central Department of Botany (CDB)
Tribhuvan University (TU)
Kiritipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Post Box: 26429
Phone: +977 -1-4331322, +977-1-4333722
Fax: +977-1-4333515
Email: info@cdbtu.edu.np
Website: http://www.cdbtu.edu.np/icblcc2010

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