Situated as it is, in the tropical belt of the world, India is a trough of rich vegetation. North-East (NE) India comprising the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim is very rich in plant biodiversity as well as in ethnic diversity and has a great traditional knowledge base in plant resources. The flora and fauna of this region is numerous and varied. The region accounts for 7.8% of the total land space of the country.
North-East India with its rich floristic diversity is also inhabited by the largest number of tribes and they lead an intricate life totally dependent on the forest plants. Virtually their requirements ranging from food, fuel, fodder, medicine, cordage and various other domestic needs are met from the local vegetation. Overall tribal population of this region accounts for more than 57 per cent of the total population. However. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland comprise more than 73 per cent tribal population of the total population, thus imparting a predominantly tribal character to the region.
So far, information on ethnobotanical knowledge of this region is available only for 372 plant species in published literature. Considering the richness of plant diversity of the region, the actual documented information is too meagre leaving a yawning gap in so far as untapped knowledge is concerned, which needs to be bridged. It is imperative to study the traditional herbal medicine being practiced in the region and document the same for proper sustained utilization. There is a need to set up a People's Biodiversity Register, a programme to involve people in documenting biodiversity on which they have sovereignty leading to protection of their Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs).
The objective of this Seminar was to bridge the information gap of the untapped resources by interacting with the tribal people of the region. the holders of traditional knowledge. It was at the behest of the Govt. of India and Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), formerly known as NISCOM, organized this seminar in Guwahati during March 2001; aimed at developing the NE region. It was felt that it could be possible by taking an initiative in sensitizing the people and creating awareness in local people about the importance of medicinal plants of the area. Today's patent regime can be made an instrument of economic growth of the traditional knowledge on plant resources is documented properly.
In this seminar, more than fifty research workers participated and thirty research papers were presented. The seminar being first of the kind provided an excellent opportunity to deliberate on the relevant topics and developmental issues to foster networking and partnership between specialists of diverse background.
We are thankful to the Govt. of India and CSIR for funding this programme. We are grateful to Dr. H.L. Duorah, the Vice-Chancellor of Guwahati University for not only his help and cooperation but also for chairing the Valedictory Function of the Seminar. Our thanks are due to Dr. S. Borthakur, Professor, Department of Botany, Guwahati University. and his colleagues for their excellent logistic support extended to the organizers. We are thankful to director, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati for hosting the Seminar and providing accommodation and other facilities, which enabled us to conduct the seminar smoothly.
We wish to record our sincere thanks to Shri Ajay Kumar. Development Commissioner, Arunachal Pradesh, not only for consenting to inaugurate the Seminar but also for the keen interest evinced by him in the Seminar. We are extremely thankful to all the Coordinators from the different states of NE region for their unflinching support and cooperation in making the Seminar a success.
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