An international workshop on “Flora of Pan-Himalayas” was held in the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOB) from 19-20, May. Botanists from China, India, Japan, Nepal, and USA participated. Five botanists of UK couldn’t come because of the Iceland volcanic ash effect, but they sent their suggestions and comments to the workshop. Dr. Peter H. Raven of Missouri Botanical Garden highly appreciated this project and sent a congratulation letter to the workshop.
The workshop is chaired by Prof. HONG Deyuan, Prof. MA Keping (Director of IOB) gave a welcome speech. Prof. LI Jiayang, Vice President of CAS, Prof. SANIJAPPA, Director of Botanical Survey of India, and Prof. HAN Jianguo, Director of Bureau of International Cooperation, NSFC, gave their addresses to the workshop.
The Pan-Himalayas region consists of the highest mountains and plateau of the world and is phytogeographically unique. It is home to several important biodiversity hotspots. The Flora will record about 20,000 species of the native and naturalized vascular plants from this area. It is the largest project after the compilation of Flora of China for Chinese plant taxonomists. Botanists from the other Himalayan counties, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Indian, Pakistan and Afghanistan will collaborate in this project. The herbaria in UK, USA and Japan, which have important collections from the Himalayas and authorities will also be involved in this project. It will take 12 years to compile this Flora which is planned to publish 50 volumes and 80 books.
During the workshop, the history of botanical studies of the Himalayan plants, the geographic scope, the classification systems, and guidelines for flora writing have been discussed. After serious discussions, the participants signed a memorandum of cooperation.
Scene of the meeting
Prof. LI Jiayang, Vice President of CAS gave a speech
An international workshop on “Flora of Pan-Himalayas” was held in the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOB) from 19-20, May. Botanists from China, India, Japan, Nepal, and USA participated. Five botanists of UK couldn’t come because of the Iceland volcanic ash effect, but they sent their suggestions and comments to the workshop. Dr. Peter H. Raven of Missouri Botanical Garden highly appreciated this project and sent a congratulation letter to the workshop.
The workshop is chaired by Prof. HONG Deyuan, Prof. MA Keping (Director of IOB) gave a welcome speech. Prof. LI Jiayang, Vice President of CAS, Prof. SANIJAPPA, Director of Botanical Survey of India, and Prof. HAN Jianguo, Director of Bureau of International Cooperation, NSFC, gave their addresses to the workshop.
The Pan-Himalayas region consists of the highest mountains and plateau of the world and is phytogeographically unique. It is home to several important biodiversity hotspots. The Flora will record about 20,000 species of the native and naturalized vascular plants from this area. It is the largest project after the compilation of Flora of China for Chinese plant taxonomists. Botanists from the other Himalayan counties, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Indian, Pakistan and Afghanistan will collaborate in this project. The herbaria in UK, USA and Japan, which have important collections from the Himalayas and authorities will also be involved in this project. It will take 12 years to compile this Flora which is planned to publish 50 volumes and 80 books.
During the workshop, the history of botanical studies of the Himalayan plants, the geographic scope, the classification systems, and guidelines for flora writing have been discussed. After serious discussions, the participants signed a memorandum of cooperation.
Scene of the meeting
Prof. LI Jiayang, Vice President of CAS gave a speech