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ENVIRONEWS, APRIL 2005 1

ENVIRENVIRENVIRENVIRENVIRONEWSONEWSONEWSONEWSONEWSINTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL BOTANISTS

NewsletterNewsletterNewsletterNewsletterNewsletterLUCKNOW (INDIA) VOL 11 No 2 APRIL, 2005

IN THIS ISSUE

Letters ............................... 02

News Flash ....................... 04

Biomonitoring of airpollutants with plantsBy Ludwig De Temmerman, J.Nigel B. Bell, Jean Pierre Garrec,Andreas Klumpp, GeorgH.M. Krause & Alfred E.G.Tonneijck ........................... 05

Biodiversity Conservation ofFreshwater Ecosystem in IndiaBy S.K. Kulshrestha .............. 06

News and Views ............... 08

Conferences ..................... 11

Books ............................... 12

Call for Registration & Abstracts

THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PLANTS& ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

(ICPEP-3)

29 November – 2 December 2005Lucknow (INDIA)

Organized by:

International Society of Environmental Botanists &

National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India

Co-sponsored by:

International Union of Biological Sciences

The Academy of Sciences for Developing World

United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization

Organizing Secretaries (ICPEP-3)

Dr. R. D. Tripathi Dr. Kamla KulshreshthaInternational Society of Environmental Botanists

National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap MargLucknow – 226 001, India

Phone : +91-522-2205831 to 35 Ext.-223 ; Fax : +91-522-2205836 / 2205839E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Website: http://www.geocities.com/isebindia/index.html

Last date for Registration & Abstracts: 31 st August, 2005

l Informative news, views and popular articles/write-ups on current environmental researches/issues are invited for publicationin ENVIRONEWS.

l Environews is published quarterly on the first of January/April/July/October; and is supplied free to all members of ISEB.l Environews is also supplied in exchange for scientific literature published by reputed organisations.l All correspondence should be addressed to : The Secretary, International Society of Environmental Botanists, National

Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow-226 001 (India).l E-mail : [email protected] l Website : http://www.geocities.com/isebindia/index.html

2 ENVIRONEWS, APRIL 2005

LETTERS

Thanks for the Environews that you sent me, I really appreciatedit. I´m looking for the date and instructions to submit abstractson the ICPEP-3. By the way, it is a pleasure to contact you. I sawyour book “Plant Responses under Environmental Stress”. Howcan I apply for or where can I buy it? I´m a biologist, Master inEcology and manager of Terrestrial Ecosystem Sector ofEnvironmental Agency of São Paulo State (Brazil) and work onthe effects of pollution on plants, air or soil pollution, ozone,fluoride, lead, chromium, and so on.

Rodrigo FialhoMannager of Terrestrial Ecosystem Sector of CETESB

Environmental Agency of São Paulo State,São Paulo 05459-900, Brazil

E-mail: [email protected]

With much regret and deep sadness, I wish to inform you thatit has been brought to my attention that Dr. Moire Wadleigh(University of Newfoundland, St. Johns, NF, Canada) passed awayon November 3, 2004. As you know well, she and her husbandwere at ICPEP-2 in Lucknow in February 2002 and her paperfrom the Conference was published in the Special Issue ofEnvironmental Pollution.

Although I do not know the details, for me it is difficult toaccept the news, because just during the last year, I served as anexternal reviewer for Dr. Wadleigh’s promotion to a Full Professorat her University. Dr. Wadleigh, in my mind was an excellentscientist and teacher and most importantly, a fine person. I trulyenjoyed our discussions in Lucknow and was attempting todevelop a scientific collaboration with her, prior to her untimelydemise.

God has ways and reasons. What a sad ending for a risingscientist? , but, I hope she is in good hands.

Prof. Sagar V. KrupaUniversity of Minnesota,

St. Paul, MN 55108, U.S.A.E-mail: [email protected]

Thank you for sending the electronic version of Environews,January 2005. Among other materials, it was especially interestingfor me to read the article “Lichens in the changed Environmentof Lucknow” by Dr. Upreti.

Dr. Gregory InsarovInstitute of Global Climate and Ecology

20-b Glebovskaya Street, 107258 Moscow, RussiaE-mail: [email protected]

My colleague and I were pleased to see our article on”Scotobiology – The Biology of Darkness” in your latest newsletter.I have tried to get a copy and ‘am willing to become a memberfor present & future issues. My request has been unansweredand am hoping you may be able to help.

Would you also be so kind to send the copy of theannouncement to Dr. Bidwell, FRSC at his e. mail address:[email protected] . Professor Bidwell, the creator of the word“SCOTOBIOLOGY”, is well known for his work onphotosynthesis, development, metabolism and environmentalphysiology of plants. He taught for many years at Queen’sUniversity in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and is now ProfessorEmeritus.

Peter L.E. GoeringDirector, Muskoka Heritage Foundation (retired)

“Ecology of the Night” Symposiumc/o 12 Brendan Road, Toronto ON M4G 2X1, Canada

Email: [email protected]

I wish to let you know that as a member of the InternationalAdvisory Committee, I have delivered via e-mail to more than100 institutions and people of Argentina the attached informationabout ICPEP-3, to be held at Lucknow next November-December.

I am looking forward to present at the Conference acontribution, perhaps a lecture, dealing with the shift of vegetationand structure in the temperate, semi-arid zone of Argentina dueto anthropogenic management. This is the subject in which havebeen working for the last twenty years. It is very much related toconservation, loss of biodiversity and land restoration.

It will be a matter of pleasure to get in contact with youonce again. I hope I will get the financial support to visit oncemore the National Botanical Research Institute and Lucknow.

Osvaldo A. FernándezConsultant Professor

Agr. Eng. Univ. Buenos Aires)CERZOS-CONICET

Bahia Blanca - ArgentinaE-mail: [email protected]

As you know, Jamia Hamdard is one of the few institutions inthe country, which focus specifically on environmental aspectsin their teaching and research programmes. We also have a post-graduate teaching programme leading to the award of M.Sc.degree in Environmental Botany. We shall be pleased hosting aday-long satellite session of Third International Conference on


Plants and Environmental Pollution (ICPEP-3), in our campus ifyou kindly agree to it. We have a team of dedicated workers whomay organize the show dexteriously and we also have adequateinfrastructural facilities required for holding such aninternational meet.

Having heard from you in reply, I shall ask Prof. M. Iqbal,Head of Botany Department in this University to keep in touchwith you and finalize the details of the programme.

Siraj Hussain, I.A.S.Vice-Chancellor

Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University)Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi-110062


I congratulate you and your team for the commendable job ofpreparing the draft of the circular inviting registration and abstract.The entire package is superb. I have following suggestions onthe draft:

1) The date for submission of registration form and abstractcan be the same; 2) O3 depletion can be stratospheric O3

depletion; 3) Methane efflux can be replaced by methaneemission; 4) Instead of increased UV-B, Enhanced UV-B may beused; 5) Heavy metal pollution may be kept as a separate topic;6) Bioremediation may include three categories: (a) higher plants(b) lower plants (3) microorganisms.

Prof. Madhoolika AgrawalDepartment of Botany,

Banaras Hindu UniversityVaranasi, India


I commend you for a thorough and timely call for registration. Iam attaching a proposed revision of the ICPEP-3 Circular in MS-Word. It contains a number of changes throughout in punctuation,style, format and, in some cases, content. I hope it will be helpfulfor you and the organizers. RTF is not all that common in the USand many other countries. I would strongly recommend acceptingabstracts in MS-Word as well. It would be most helpful for manyconsidering submissions.

One more inquiry. Is there a poster announcing the meeting?I would like to distribute some to several universities here thatmay be interested in the meeting. If so, could it be sentelectronically? I could print out copies accordingly.

Prof. R.F.E. CrangUniversity of Illinois, Urbana, U.S.A.

[email protected]

I wanted some help in making Gauhati the fragrant city. I wantedto know about its viability analysis, species selection, zoning andhow to ensure income generation for people. Idea is to involvepeople and also make the city green and fragrant. I am a DFO hereand in a position to do a project. Also I would seek your kind helpin letting me know other resource people for the endeavour.

Hirdesh [email protected]

The International Union of Biological Sciences Secretariat iscurrently compiling a Calender of Events for 2005-2007. This isto be published in Biology International online and we hope toinclude as many events involving our members as possible. Iwould be extremely grateful if you would be so kind as to informme of any forthcoming conferences, congresses, symposia,training courses, or other such events that involve yourorganization or institute. The publication of this information inBiology International online will help us at the IUBS Secretariatto keep up to date with our members' activities, and also toprovide useful publicity for your events.

I very much hope that you consider this to be a worthwhileexercise, so I await your timely response.

Laura RaggattIUBS Secretariat, 51, bld de Montmorency, Paris, France


I came to know about ICPEP-3 to be held at Lucknow in Nov.-Dec.2005. I am keen to attend and present a paper on‘Phytoremediation - Case Study of Vetiver grass.....’. I would behappy to be a member on your international advisory committee/board. Please send details of the Conference.

Rajiv K. SinhaVisiting Senior Lecturer

Griffith University, Brisbane, [email protected]

Thank you for information about ICPEP-3. I would like to takepart in it. The topic of my lecture: “Mountain biodiversity ofKazakhstan, problems of sustainable use and conservation.”

May I ask you to inform me of your decision on myparticipation?

Baitulin Issa Omarovich,Professor,

Academician of the National Academy of Sciences,Honoured Scientist of the Republic of Kazakhstan

[email protected]


NEWS FLASH

NEW LIFE MEMBERS

MASHELKAR TAKES OVER ASPRESIDENT OF INSA

Dr. R.A. Mashelkar took over as thePresident of Indian National ScienceAcademy (INSA) recently. Dr. Mashelkarhas occupied various academic positionsin Europe and U.S.A. He was appointedas Director of the National ChemicalLaboratory, Pune in 1989. Currently he isthe Director General of India’s Council ofScientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) andSecretary to Government of India,Department of Scientific & IndustrialResearch.

Dr. Mashelkar has over 235 researchpublications to his credit in non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, gel scienceand polymer research engineering. He isa Fellow of Royal Society London and alsoForeign Fellow of U.S. National Academyof Engineerig.

Prof. Mohammad Iqbal, Head of theDepartment of Botany, HamdardUniversity and an Executive Councillor ofInternational Society of EnvironmentalBotanists, has taken over as the Acting ViceChancellor of Hamdard University NewDelhi. He replaces Mr. Siraj Husain I.A.S.whose term as Vice-chancellor endedrecently.

Prof. Madhoolika Agrawal, Departmentof Botany, Banaras Hindu University, a LifeMember & Executive Councillor of ISEBhas received Dr. P. Sheel Memorial YoungWomen Scientist Award of NationalAcademy of Sciences, Allahabad, India.

Dr. Vivek Pandey, scientist of the StressPhysiology Laboratory at NBRI and a LifeMember of ISEB visited Germany for 3months under CSIR-DAAD Bilateral

Scientists Exchange Programme(26.10.2004 to 21.01.05). Dr. Pandeyworked in the lab of Prof. Karl Josef Dietz,Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld.Prof. Dietz’s research group has main focuson redox regulation and peroxiredoxins,which are part of the plant redox network.Dr. Pandey worked on salicylic acidinduced gene expression in Arabidopsisplants.

M s. Sunita Narain, well knownenvironmental activist and Director ofCentre for Science & Environment, NewDelhi has been conferred PadmashriAward by the President of India.

NBRI DEVELOPS NEWCHRYSANTHEMUM VARIETY

National Botanical Research Institute,Lucknow, India developed a novelChrysanthemum variety ‘Mother Teresa’ byusing open pollinated seedling selectionsmethod. This variety has won a U.S. patent(PP13,678).

TRAINING PROGRAMME TOMOTIVATE INNOVATIVE AND

CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF SCHOOLCHILDREN IN S & T

A group of Scientists from Eco-EducationDivision, National Botanical ResearchInstitute, Lucknow led by Dr. KamlaKulshrestha, Head of the Division and JointSecretary ISEB, organized a series ofpopular lectures and training programmeunder Year of Scientific Awareness (YSA)programme of U.P. State Council ofScience & Technology. The programmewas held on 15, 16 and 28 February 2005at Shahjehanpur, Bareilly and Ghaziabaddistricts of Uttar Pradesh, India,respectively.

Justice S.C. Verma, Lok Ayukta of theState of Uttar Pradesh, India has joinedInternational Society of EnvironmentalBotanists as a Life Member. Justice Vermaobtained degrees in Science and Law fromthe Allahabad University. He was elevatedas Judge of Allahabad High Court in 1990.After his superannuation he took oath ofthe Office of Lok Ayukta, Uttar Ppradeshin March 2000. Justice Verma hasparticipated in several Ombudsmanconferences in South Africa, China, Japan,South Korea and Canada. Justice Verma isa keen sportsman, a nature lover and anactive environmentalist.

Mr. Abhilash P.C. joined InternationalSociety of Environmental Botanists as a LifeMember. Mr. Abhilash, a research scholar,is working in the Eco-Auditing Group,Biomass Biology and EnvironmentalSciences Division of National BotanicalResearch Institute, Lucknow.

The aim of programme was to“Motivate the innovative and creativepotential of school children in Science &Technology”. Dr. Kamla Kulshreshthaemphasized on the importance of sciencefor the school children and tried to boostup their scientific temperament that helpin shaping India as a developed countrythrough Vision 2000.

In this programme, many areas ofscience like Physics, Chemistry, Zoology,Geology, Environmental science etc. werecovered by the experts who alsodistributed informative booklets to thestudents. The members of District ScienceClubs of Council of Science andTechnology also participated in a quizcompetition. The communication in theprogramme was two-way and highlyinteractive which helped students to satisfytheir curiosity and solve their problem withscientists.


BIOMONITORING OF AIR POLLUTANTS WITH PLANTS*

LUDWIG DE TEMMERMAN, J. NIGEL B. BELL, JEAN PIERRE GARREC, ANDREAS KLUMPP,GEORG H.M. KRAUSE & ALFRED E.G. TONNEIJCK

Since the Industrial Revolution at theend of the 19 th century it has beenrecognized that air pollutants can causedramatic effects on plants. However, thefirst recognition in print of air pollutiondamage to vegetation is in John Evelyn’sbook “Fumifugium” published in 1661.

Biomonitoring consists of the use ofresponses of individual plants or plantassociations at several biologicalorganization levels in order to detect orpredict changes in the environment andto follow their evolution as a function oftime. Some plant species are sensitive tosingle pollutants or to mixtures ofpollutants. Those species or cultivars arelikely to be used in order to monitor theeffects of air pollutants as bioindicatorplants. They have the great advantage toshow clearly the effects of phytotoxiccompounds present in ambient air. Assuch, they are ideal for demonstrationpurposes. However, they can also be usedto monitor temporal and spatialdistributions of pollution effects.Standardization of methods is crucial inorder to develop air quality standardsbased on effect monitoring.

Many plants are useful asbioaccumulators and the choice of speciesdepends on the aims of biomonitoring.Mosses and lichens accumulate heavymetals and other compounds veryefficiently because of their large specificsurface and slow growth. As such theyserve mostly as passive biomonitors toprovide an indication of the pollutantimpact at the ecosystem level. On the otherhand, field crops and vegetables can serveas an immediate step to detect effects onfood and fodder quality and safety.Bioaccumulators are not only used tomeasure deposits of heavy metals but alsoradionuclides, polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons, dioxins and all kinds ofaerosols which can also be accumulatedefficiently. As far as contaminants of foodand fodder crops are concerned, they area crucial step to evaluate the potentialtransfer to consumers.

The idea of biomonitoring goes backto the 19th century when NYLANDER

(1866) used the abundance of lichens asa measure for air pollution effects. For thepurpose of surveying ambient air quality,biological indicators were used the firsttime in 1958 in the basin of Los Angeles,US; however, the low cost of this methodin comparison to the chemical-analyticalmethods was the decisive factor byotherwise similar objective targets (HECK1966). HEGGESTAD & DARLEY (1969)reported work with tobacco (Bel–W3) onthe detection of ambient oxidant effectsin California and VAN RAAY (1969) usedindicator plants to study the effect of HFand SO2 in the Netherlands. However, itwas SCHÖNBECK et al. (1970) whopointed out for the first time, that biologicalindicators gain effects-related informationwhich cannot be assessed by means ofchemical analytical methods of airpollution monitoring systems.

The significance of biomonitoring airpollution burden by plants offers someimportant results from different abilities:

4 Plants show an integrated responseto the pollution climate, thus givinginformation even on the potency ofcomplex pollutant mixtures,occurring simultaneously oralternatively in a stochastic pattern,reacting only to the effective part of agiven pollution situation. This allowslargely realistic estimates of the givenrisk potential with regard to theobjectives to be protected.

4 Plants react to an ambient airpollution burden (often with astrongly fluctuating pattern) with anassessable and verifiable reaction,while modeling of dose-effectsrenders information with a muchlesser degree of confidence due to e.g.random distribution of pollutants intime and space.

4 Different levels of organization of theplant can be used for biomonitoring,ranging from the single plant (leaf oreven plant cell) to the plantassociation and the ecosystem. Theresponse that is obtained at thecommunity level (e.g. shift in speciescomposition) is a result of an

integration of different factors over arelatively long period experienced bycompetitive plant species and as suchcannot be detected on the basis ofphysical and chemical measurements.

4 Some air pollutants have very lowambient concentrations and aredifficult to measure accurately withphysical and chemical methods.Plants can accumulate thosepollutants to a level that is easier toanalyze.

4 Effects are expressed in sensitive plantspecies as visible injury (leaf injuryor changes in habit), and in lesssensitive species (even pollution-tolerant species) in the accumulationof pollutants; both providing animportant tool in recognizing airpollution effects (making the invisiblevisible) and/or the transfer of tracepollutants within the biological chain.

Many of these attributes renderbiomonitoring as being particularlysuitable for developing countries. In suchplaces there is generally only a very limitedair monitoring network and biomonitoringoffers the opportunity to determine thelarge scale pattern of pollutant distribution,as well as temporal changes. Continuousphysico-chemical monitoring requires theuse of expensive equipment and skilledpersonnel, as well as ready access tomaintenance of the former and access tospare parts. These are invariably in shortsupply in most developing countries andin many cases effectively non-existent.

There are several possible goals whencarrying out biomonitoring of airpollutants.

4 Spatial distribution of air pollutantsin order to map pollution effects onregional or supra-regional scale. Thiscan be carried out for air pollutioneffects with bioindicators and fordeposits of particulate and gaseouspollutants with bioaccumulators.

4 Temporal distribution of air pollutants(time series) can also be done to assesseffects of particulate deposition aswell as gaseous pollutants.


4 Source monitoring is a lot easier thanlarge scale monitoring and isapplicable to a broader range ofpollutants when they reachphytotoxic levels. The climaticdifferences between the differentmeasuring locations are almostnegligible on a regional scale.

4 At the ecosystem level, the plantcommunity is a very interesting toolto study the pressure of air pollutionon plant communities andecosystems and to detect effects onbiodiversity.

4 Bioindicator plants are also veryuseful to draw public awareness toair pollution problems, since they candemonstrate the visibility of otherwiseinvisible air pollutants, especially incity environments and in developing

INTRODUCTIONBiodiversity includes assemblage of

plants, animals and micro-organisms; theirgenetic variability expressed in varietiesand populations; their habitats, ecosystemsand natural areas, the mosaic of whichgives richness to the natural environment.Biodiversity or biological resourcesprovide food, clothing, housing, medicineand spiritual nourishment to humanbeings. Apart from the rich flora, India ishaving 7% of the 89,500 animal species,found in the world. The loss to Indianbiodiversity is mainly from habitatdestruction, over-harvesting, pollution andinappropriate introduction of exotic plantsand animals.

As stated in ‘Global BiodiversityAssessment’, published by the UNEP,"unless action is taken to protectbiodiversity, we will lose forever theopportunity and the most precious assetsof natural resources, available to themankind." Biodiversity conservation is ofcritical importance as it may be of director indirect benefit to mankind.

Among major biodiversity countries,the number of species of higher plants inBrazil is 55,000 followed by Columbia

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION OF FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM IN INDIA

S.K. KULSHRESTHA

35,000, China 30,000, Mexico 25,000,South Africa 23,000, former Soviet Union22,000, Indonesia 20,000, Venezuela20,000, United States of America 18,000,Australia 15,000 and India 15,000.

FRESHWATER RESOURCESOver 99% of biosphere water occurs

in oceans and polar ice deposits, out ofwhich 97.61% occurs in oceans. Thefreshwater is mainly in the form of ice,snow and ground water, 0.009% infreshwater lakes, 0.0009% in atmosphericwater vapour and 0.00009% in rivers.Only 0.01% of the global freshwater isavailable in rivers, lakes and reservoirs.The dam reservoirs contain five times asmuch water as in rivers. The surface waterssustain freshwater biodiversity, performecological functions and support humanneeds such as agriculture, hydro-electricity, industry, sewage and sanitation,aquaculture, fisheries, drinking water,transportation, recreation and spiritualneeds, etc. About 54% of accessiblesurface run off is used. About 45,000species of freshwater organisms are knownwhile about one million are yet to bediscovered. Major organisms includeviruses, bacteria, diatoms, plants and

countries where industrialisation andurbanisation are increasing.

4 Plants could probably serve as healthindicators. Comparisons ofbiomonitoring work on traceelements and the occurrence ofepidemiological disturbances inhuman health can be helpful, but arenot yet convincing and need to bedeveloped further. Bioaccumulatorplants are particularly valuable inorder to study the transfer of airbornechemicals to the food chain as cropscan be used for this purpose.

4 Biomonitoring offers a support andscient i f ic background for theelaboration of effect-based limitvalues and direct ives on airquality.

Ludwig De Temmerman, Veterinary &Agrochemical Research Centre,

Tervuren, BelgiumNigel Bell, Imperial College London, U.K.

Jean-Pierre Garrec, INRA Nancy,Champenoux, France

Andreas Klumpp, Institute for Landscape& Plant Ecology, University of

Hohenheim, Stuttgart, GermanyGeorg H.M. Krause, LandesumweltamtNordrhein-Westfalen, Essen, Germany

Alfred E.G. Tonneijck, WageningenUniversity & Research Centre,Wageningen, The Netherlands

(*Condenced from “Urban Air Pollution,Bioindication & Environmental

Awareness” edited by Andreas Klumpp,Wolfgang Ansel & Gabriele Klumpp &

published by Cuvillier Verlag, Göttingen, 2004)

animals from protozoa to mammals.Freshwater organisms constitute about25% of the total number of organisms.

Aquatic bacterial diversity knowledgeis increasing rapidly. Almost 20% of thefishes, found globally, are extinct,vulnerable or endangered. The richendemic ichthyofauna of African Lake,Victoria, has been reduced by exoticpredatory Nile perch, over-fishing andeutrophication. Groundwaters, as deep as2.8 Km, may have rich bacterial flora.According to World Bank, 80 countrieswith 40% of the world’s population havewater shortage that could crippleagriculture and industry. Fish diversity isthreatened by construction of dams,hydro-electric facilities, channelizationprojects and invasion of non-native biota.The Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers carrymore than 3 billion metric tons of soil tothe Bay of Bengal each year, spreading itover 3 million sq. km of sea bed.

BENEFITS FROM FRESHWATERBIODIVERSITY

Freshwater biodiversity providesbenefits to humans. This includes inlandwater fishing for food, aquaculture


production, ornamental fish trade,recreational fishing, rice farming, harvestof a variety of other living resources,medicinal plants, fuel resources andecological functions including primaryproduction, provision of three dimensionalhabitat, biogeochemical recycling,pollutant remediation, moderation ofnutrient pulses and population . Terrestrialand aquatic ecological functions havebeen estimated to be worth US $ 33 trillionper year globally. Freshwaters and theirvaried biodiversity form part of the Earth’secosphere which restores us spiritually,inspires us aesthetically and must bepassed on to future generations. TheBiodiversity Convention and the World’sCharter of Nature have emphasized thatlike all other life forms, freshwaterorganisms have an intrinsic right to survivaland warrant respect.

WETLANDSWetlands are transitional areas

between dry terrestrial and permanentaquatic ecosystems. These are recognizedas highly productive ecosystems. Wetlandsinclude 22 habitat types (IUCN, 1989).The Indian wetland area is about 7.6million ha, excluding paddy fields, riversand canals, out of which 3.6 million ha isinland and 4 million ha coastal. There are2,175 natural wetlands having 1.46million ha area and 65,254 man-madelakes having 2.85 million ha area in India.The total number of animal species,reported from India, is 89,461; out ofwhich 17,853 belong to wetlandscomprising 19.9% of the total number.About 50,000 ha area of wetlands isdegraded every year in Asia. It results insoil acidification, soil erosion, loss of soilnutrients, change in hydrology, loss of floraand fauna and disruption of delicateecosystem. The wetlands performenormous variety of functions includingregulatory, carrier, production andinformation functions. The regulatoryfunctions include storage and cycling ofnutrients, human wastes and organicwastes; groundwater recharge anddischarge; control of natural floods,erosion and salinity; water treatment,climatic stabilization; and maintenance ofecosystem stability; integrity of otherecosystems and biological diversity. Thecarrier functions include agriculture,irrigation, transport, energy production,tourism, recreations, human habitat andsettlements and as nursery for plant and

animal species. The production functionsinclude water, food, wood fuel, medicineresources, genetic resources and rawmaterials for building, construction andindustrial use. The information functionsinclude research, education, monitoringand their role in cultural heritage. Thenatural functions of the wetlands includeclimatic, biodiversity, habitat, hydrologicaland hydraulic and water quantityfunctions. Among biodiversity functionsare centers of endemism, ecosystemdiversity, habitat diversity, species andpopulation diversity. Besides this, theyprovide diverse species assemblages,highly diverse microbiological activity,large genetic pool and link betweenterrestrial and aquatic ecosystems,Wetlands are being modified or reclaimedthrough out the world, their resources overexploited, and their lands converted toother uses. Since 1900, more than half ofthe world wetlands have disappeared.Water management in wetlands has beenoriented towards the needs of people, suchas transportation, flood control, agricultureand settlement. There are manystakeholders whose diverse interest layclaim on the wetland function. Theseinclude direct extensive and intensiveusers, exploiters who dredge sediments orexploit mineral resources, agriculturalproducers who drain and convert wetlandsto agricultural land, water abstractors whouse wetland as source of drinking orirrigation water, human settlementsexpansion and indirect users who benefitfrom flood control use of the wetland . Ourprimary objective should be to buildcapacity for wetland management.Compilation of national wetlands databaseis the first stage of a conservation strategy.All products from the natural environmentshould be valued and costed according totheir real costs, including the cost ofsustainable production and environmentalprotection. In India, efforts have beenmade to restore Chilka Lagoon, a coastalwetland and along Gandak sub basin, BhojWetland and other such water bodies.However, baseline data on the biodiversityof freshwater ecosystem, in India, ismeagre. In our studies on the Lowe Lakeand Mansarovar Lake, which for a part ofBhoj Wetland, we found 93 species ofphytoplankton, 53 taxa of zooplankton,130 of periphyton, 38 of macrozoobenthosand 26 species of fish. We found richaquatic flora and fauna in Chambal,

Kshipra and Khan rivers. Scattered studiesare available on the biodiversity ofwaterbodies in India. However, acontinuous and comprehensive databaseis not available. Compilation of a nationaldatabase is the need of the time.

CONSERVATION ACTION PLANThe conservation of aquatic

biodiversity should be done at ecosystemlevel. Appropriate management ofwetlands and rivers may be a proper stepin this direction. Restoration of acidified,eutrophied or weed infested lakes needdifferent treatments, The main problem inIndian lakes, are: siltation, eutrophication,weed infestation, pollution and humanencroachment for habitation, agriculture,aquaculture and land use. The lakemanagement includes passive and activeactions. In passive action, minimumhuman interference maintains theecosystem in a natural way; such systemis possible in unpolluted lake. In activemanagement, manipulation ofenvironmental conditions is undertaken toaffect the desired change. The activemanagement includes soft strategies,covering water control and weederadication, while hard strategies includealtering of the vegetation, construction ofdikes, canals, etc. for changing theenvironmental conditions. An effectivelake management would include both softand hard strategies. The restorativemeasures would include afforestation oflake basin or catchment area; shorelinestabilization and demarcation;maintenance of water level; restoration ofeutrophied lakes by prevention of sewageor nutrients from point and non-pointsources, biological control, chemicalcontrol, mechanical control, aeration andsediment removal; restoration of lakeshaving aquatic weed infestation bymanual, mechanical and biologicalmethods; pollution control; monitoring thewater quality for various physico-chemicaland biological parameters; developmentof fisheries, tourism, etc.; environmentalawareness and evaluation of restorativemeasures.

All rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands,etc. should be treated as integratedcomponent of a river basin and amechanism for coordination between allprogrammes for conservation andmanagement should be developed.Necessary steps are required to ensure


NEWS AND VIEWS

adequate flow in rivers for maintainingtheir ecological integrity, water quality andbiodiversity. The abstraction of river andsurface waters for various uses, such as,for agriculture, domestic and industrial useshould be regulated in relation to the totalflow. The return flow of adequate qualityby recycling and reuse of wastewatershould be endured. Certain rivers may begiven status of “National Heritage Rivers”.Conservation and restoration offloodplains and protection of upperwatersheds of rives, throughout the

country, should be given priority. Anetwork of “Protected Areas of RiverSystems” may be established to conserveriverine biodiversity. A holistic integratedapproach for conservation of rivers andother inland surface waters should beadopted.

CONCLUSIONS :Wetlands, lakes and rivers are

daughters of the land. Ecologically soundand economic practices on land as wellas in the water realm, will maintain and

restore aquatic ecosystems and falteringspecies can be reinvigorated with them.We need suitable practices in watershedsand waterbodies, and willingness to sharethe planet’s surface with other species.

Prof. S.K. Kulshrestha, President‘Academy of Environmental Biology’ is a

former Professor of Zoology at M.V.M.Bhopal.

His current address is: 27/3 GeetanjaliComplex, Bhopal-462003, India

E-mail: <[email protected]>

RADON-RESISTANTCONSTRUCTIONS

Radon occurs naturally in soil androck and can enter buildings throughopenings in the foundation or walls. Long-term exposure to high indoor radon levelscan increase risk of lung cancer and sinceany home could face the problem, allhomes should be tested. When elevatedradon levels are found, they can bereduced, and new homes can be builtusing radon-resistant constructiontechnique while building a home, apassive radon control system should beincluded in the construction process. It isan inexpensive addition to the total costof the new house. It involves the followingsteps for construction.

i) Gas Permeable Layer: Install a layerof clean gravel or aggregate beneath theslab or flooring system to allow soil gasesto move freely beneath the home, ii)Impermeable Layer: Cover that with avapour barrier (plastic or polyethylenesheeting) to prevent radon and other soilgases from entering the home. iii) VentPipe: Run a 3-4 inch PVC pipe from thegas permeable lay through the roof, iv)Caulking and Sealing: Caulk and seal allopenings

FOLIC ACID REDUCES BLOODPRESSURE

Women who consume large amountsof folate (about 1,000 micrograms a day)

had 46% lower risk of developinghypertension than women who took lessthan 200 a day, as reported in the Journalof the American Medical Association. It isnot yet clear how folic acid does this,although the supplement is known toreduce levels of homocysteine, a bloodcomponent that can damage bloodvessels. Women who got their folate eatingfoods naturally high in the Vitamin – suchas nuts, leafy greens and berries – did notderive the same benefit as those who tookfolic acid supplement, perhaps because itis hard to eat enough vegetables in oneday.

Men have not yet been studied asthoroughly, but there is no reason to thinkthey would not get the same benefit fromhigh doses of folate. Other scientistscaution that early studies suggesting thatlarge doses of vitamin E protect againstheart disease have not panned out.

But since millions of people in Asiasuffer from high blood pressure, and thereis not any known downside to takingfolate, it might not be a bad idea for alladults to take the current recommendeddose of 400 micrograms a day.

Sanjay Guptain TIME Magazine (U.S.A.)

AIR POLLUTION CAN THICKENBLOOD

Air pollution thickens the blood andincreases the likelihood of inflammation,according to researches carried out by

scientists at Edinburgh University. Thestudy may help explain why poor air islinked to an increased risk of heart attacksand stroke, as well as worseningrespiratory problems. The researchersfocused on ultra-fine pollutants known asparticulate matter, which may be able toalter cell function. The researchers testedthe inflammatory and blood clottingresponse of human immune cells calledmacrophages, lung cells and cells takenfrom the umbilical cord by exposing themto particulate matter. The results showedthat levels of clotting factor, which thickenthe blood, were raised in almost all thecell types.

Recent research has shown thatparticulate matter is so tiny that, wheninhaled, it can pass through the lungsdirectly into the blood stream. This maymean that its effect on macrophages couldbe deadly in people who are at risk of heartdiseases. Macrophages are a majorcomponent of the plaque deposits, whichcan build up on the walls of the arteries.Particulate matter produced high levels ofcharged particles called free radicals,which can damage the body’s tissue. Theystimulate a change in the blood, whichmake clots more likely to form.

HOME FIRES WARMING GLOBE

The burning of wood, agriculturalwaste and animal manure for cooking isthe largest source of black carbon in theair in South Asia, according to a team ofresearch scientists at IIT Bombay. Control


of these emissions through cleanercooking technologies, in addition toreducing health risks to millions of users,could be of crucial importance to climatechange mitigation in South Asia.

The effect of soot in the air over theIndian Ocean is some ten times that ofgreen house gases. The pollution causesthe air to absorb more sunlight, warmingthe atmosphere and cooling the surfacebeneath. Such changes can affect rainfallpatterns, helping make floods and droughtsmore intense.

DOLLARS FROM CARBON TRADING

Thanks to the Kyoto Protocol thatcame into effect recently, developingnations like India can earn foreignexchange from developed countries byreducing pollution levels. Kyoto Protocolmakes it obligatory for 37 developedcountries to reduce their emissions of sixdeadly greenhouse gases – includingcarbon dioxide. These 37 countries, whichaccount for 61.6 per cent of global carbondioxide emissions in 1990, have to reducethem by an average of 5.2 per cent belowthe 1990 levels by 2012. They can do thisthrough a combination of direct domesticaction and by paying cash to developingcountries who reduce these emissionlevels. The rationale behind this is thatcutting greenhouse gas emissions in anypart of the world is a good thing. By payingothers to cut emissions, developed nationsensure reductions at costs lower than intheir own countries, while countries likeIndia earn cash and benefit fromtechnology transfer.

Reducing one tonne of carbondioxide is called a Certified EmissionReduction (CER). Every CER can be boughtand sold on global exchanges. The UnitedNations Framework Convention onClimate Change (UFCCC) designed aClean Development Mechanism (CDM) toimplement this through a web ofdesignated monitoring agencies. Currently,a tonne of carbon dioxide emission savedcan fetch between three to seven USdollars.

With developed countries nowpaying to reduce global warming, there isa huge opportunity for India.

Srinivasa Prasad

Clean Energy News, Nepal

CRACKDOWN ON ALIEN SPECIES

An increasing range of non-nativeinvasive species pose a serious threat tonatural habitats, species and heritage inScotland. Although they have typicallybeen introduced innocently, many of thesespecies are out-competing some of themost valuable and vulnerable native plantsand animals, causing potentiallyirreversible damage. An audit by ScottishNatural Heritage found at least 988 alienspecies occurring there. These consistedmainly of higher plants, as well as mosses,mammals, birds, fish, insects andmollusces. They occur in all habitats frommountains to the marine environment.

Seemingly innocent plants such as thefamiliar rhododendron (Rhododendronponticum) are toxic to other plants and castdense shape making it difficult for otherplants to grow. By rapidly spreading andpreventing the regeneration of nativewoodlands it can wipe out natural treecover and associated species dependenton native woodland for the right habitatand conditions.

Japanese Knotweed (Fallopiajaponica) grows much larger in Scotlandthan it does in Japan and can burst throughtarmac and on occasions can penetratehouses, as well as out competing almostall other vegetation. The extensive rootsystem is very difficult to eradicate.

Efforts to tackle invasive non-nativespecies require cross-border co-ordinationas they are best addressed on abiogeographic basis, i.e. within naturalgeographic and ecological boundaries.

GLOBAL WARMING

Scientists have lately detected theclearest evidence yet that global warmingis real – and that human industrial activityis largely responsible for it. Researchershave cited a range of evidence that theEarth’s temperatures are rising:

The arctic regions are losing icecover; the populations of whales andwalrus that Alaskan Eskimo Communitiesdepend on food are crashing, fresh waterdraining from ice and snow on land isdecreasing the salinity of far northernoceans, while the salinity of ocean watersnear the equator has increased as the rateof evaporation of warmer tropical and

subtropical oceans quickness; manyspecies of plankton the microscopic plantsthat from the crucial base of the entiremarine food web are moving north toescape the warning water on the oceansurface of Greenland and Alaska.

Records show that for the past 50years or so, the warming Ice core drilleddeep into the Greenland ice show thatsalinity of the ice at the upper layers ofthe cores has decreased sharply due to theincursion of fresh water draining frommelting snows on the surface. Changes inthe fresh water balance of the oceans hasalready caused severe drought conditionsin America’s western states and many partsof China and other Asian countries.

Another piece of evidence cited forthe ecological impact of warming in theArctic emerged in the Bering Sea, wherehundreds of thousands of birds died andthe common plankton plants on whichthey depend totally for food was replacedby inedible plants covered with calcitemineral plates. Those plants thrive inwarmer waters and require higher - than– normal levels of carbon dioxide – themajor greenhouse gas – to reproduce.

From: San Francisco Chronicle

MERCURY HURTS CHILDREN MOST

Pollutants that might be tolerated byan adult have a larger impact on a child.A young child’s liver and kidneys – thebody’s cleaning systems – are not fullydeveloped and are less able to removepoisons. At the same time, his or her brainis forming, and a disruption to this processcan cause life-long damage.

Mercury, a toxic metal, has harmfuleffects on the minds of growing children.Unfortunately, mercury is present in everylake and river. Most mercury comes frompower plants that burn coal. The metal isreleased into the air and settles into lakes,rivers and streams, where it can enter thefood chain. When mercury enters the brainof a child, it can cause irreversible damageto his or her nervous system – whichtranslates to lowered IQ, impaired hearingand memory, poor coordination orretarded physical or verbal development.Usually, kids get mercury by eatingcontaminated fish or when their motherseat fish while pregnant. Each year in theU.S.A., about 630,000 children are born


with mercury levels that are consideredunsafe. Research shows that even thetimiest amounts of mercury can havesubtle but lasting effects on growing mindsand bodies.

Unlike some other pollutants there isno cleaning technique that will reduce theamount of mercury, we consume fromeating fish.

By Christine Ziebold

BIOFUELS CAN FUEL THE CARBONTRADING POTENTIAL OF INDIA

India can tap the $ 52-billion globalmarket for carbon trading by encouragingproduction and use of biofuels andplantation of trees having oil-bearing seedsand materials, like Jatropha and Pongamiaspecies. Other plantations having oil-bearing seeds or materials are sal, mahua,kokum, pilu, phulwara, dhupa, neem,mango, kusum, paranja, ratanjyot,jatropha, tumba, jojoba, simarouba.

Biofuels, apart from enhancing energysecurity, ensuring employment anddevelopment, and mitigatingenvironmental pollution, can beinstrumental in carbon trading if certaincriteria of the clean developmentmechanism (CMD) of the Kyoto Protocolof the United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) are fulfilled.

According to a recent study by PointCarbon, the potential of global carbonmarket over the next several years isaround $ 52 billion per annum. Growingat a rate of 4 per cent per year, India, thesixth largest producer of greenhouse gases(GHGs), contributing almost 3 per cent ofthe world’ total emissions (including CH4from waste generated by cattle)is seen asone of the most attractive destinations forCMD linked investments. Estimates put thecumulative foreign direct investment (FDI)on account of such projects of about $ 2billion, growing at the rate of $ 200 millionper year.

In light of increased evidences ofclimate change effects and their mitigationmethodologies, several carbon market andinvestment mechanisms are slowlyevolving. Though the carbon marketdynamics are not transparent, the scenarioindicates a huge potential in future. TillJanuary 2004, the total volume traded inproject based transactions is 78 million

tonne of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2).The buyer side included Japan with 41 percent and the Netherlands and CFB with23 per cent each. According to estimates,if the CMD captures at least 35 pper centof the global market, the estimated valueto the concerned countries would be $ 18billion.

A study jointly done by Srikanta K.Panigrahi, consultant with the PlanningCommission; A. Mohana Reddy, Director,ZenthEnergy, Hyderbad; and PP.Narendra, a senior consultant of the samecompany said that as per one estimate,each tonne of biodiesel produced orconsumed leads to a reduction of GHGsby about three times that is it avoids 3tonne of CO2.

These reductions in GHG emissionscan be accumulated and traded as carboncredits. The CMD facilitates selling of thesereductions in terms of certified emissionreductions (CERs), a unit of which equalsto one tone of CO2.

The study further said that the presentmarket price of carbon credits is around $5 per CER, which translates into anadditional revenue of Rs. 690 per tonneof biodiesel consumed (@ 75 paise perlitre). This additional revenue from sale ofcarbon credits can be used to raiseplantations of trees having oil bearingseeds and materials, or meet unforeseenexpenses during stabilization period ofbio-diesel technology, the study suggested.The study also pointed out that during2011-12 there would be a reduction inGHG emissions to an extent of 40 millionCO2 with 20 per cent biodiesel blend inthe country.

It also said that large-scale plantationof trees having oil-bearing seeds andmaterials, like Jatropha and Pongamiaspecies will fix carbon by photosynthesisvia the carbon cycle.

When the oil derived from these seedsis burnt, same amount of CO2 is emittedas was sequestered.

Biodiesel avoids release ofanthropogenic emissions like CH4, andN2O as is the case with conventionalpetroleum diesel.

Thus the consumption of biodiesel asan energy source either in stationary ormobile combustion leads to “no net-addition of CO2 to the atmosphere”.

From: Biofuels India.

PHYTOPLANKTON

A NASA researcher has published astudy showing that tiny free-floating oceanplants called phytoplankton had declinedin abundance globally by 6% between the1980s and 1990s. These tiny plants helpregulate our atmosphere and the health ofour oceans. Phytoplankton produce halfof the oxygen generated by plants on Earth.They also can soften the impacts of climatechange by absorbing carbon dioxide, aheat-trapping greenhouse gas.

In addition, phytoplankton serve asthe base of the ocean food chain, so theirabundance determines the overall healthof ocean ecosystems. Given theirimportance, it makes sense that scientistwould want to closely track trends inphytoplankton numbers and in how theyare distributed around the world.

However, the researches used NASAsatellite data from 1998 to 2003 to showthat phytoplankton amounts haveincreased globally more than 4%. Theseincreases have mainly occurred along thecoasts. No significant changes were seenin phytoplankton concentrations withinthe global open oceans, but phytoplanktonlevels declined in areas near the center ofoceans, the mid-ocean gyres.Phytoplankton growth is largely dependenton amounts of nutrients and light availableto the plants. Warmer water temperaturescan create distinct layers in the oceansurface, which allows less of the nutrientrich, colder deeper water to rise up andmix with sunny surface layers wherephytoplankton live. Winds churn and mixthe ocean water, carrying nutrient richwaters to the sunny surface layer, so whenwinds decline, mixing declines andphytoplankton can suffer.

GARBAGE BURNING EXPOSESCITIZENS TO RESPIRATORY

AILMENTS

The practice of burning garbage byroadsides and at unattended dumps inresidential areas of Karachi is on the rise,which has exposed citizens to respiratoryailments, cancer, immune system damageand other health problems.

Instead of removing garbageproperly the sanitary workers often setthe heaps on fire for their convenience,


CONFERENCES

37th Air Pollution Workshop andInternational SymposiumApril 25 - 28, 2005Banff Park Lodge, Banff, Alberta, CanadaHost: Biosphere Solutions, Calgary,Alberta, CanadaContact: Dr. Allan H. Legge,Host, 37th Air Pollution Workshop, c/oBiosphere Solutions 1601 11th AvenueN. W.Calgary, Alberta T2N 1H1, CanadaTel: 403-282-4479; Fax: 403-282-4479e-mail: [email protected]

Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases (NCGG-4)July 4-6, 2005, Utrecht, The NetherlandsContact: http://www.milieukundigen.nl/pages/ncgg4/

Biomedicine 2005Sixth International Conference onModelling in Medicine & BiologySeptember 7 – 9, 2005, Bologna, ItalyContact: Carlos BrebbiaConference Director OrRachel Green, Senior ConferenceCoordinator<[email protected]>Website: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2005/bio2005/3.html

Sustainable Planning 2005Second International Conference onSustainable Planning and Development12 - 14 September 2005, Bologna, ItalyWebsite: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2005/spd2005/3.html

Third International Conference on theImpact of Environmental Factors onHealthEnvironmental Health Risk 2005September 14 – 16, 2005, Bologna, ItalyContact : Katie Banham, ConferenceSecretariatEmail: [email protected] or Fax: +44 (0) 238 029 2853Wessex Institute, Ashurst Lodge, AshurstSouthampton, SO40 7AA, UKTel: +44 (0) 238 029 3223 Fax: +44 (0)238 029 2853Website : http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2005/ehr2005/4.html

making the residents of nearby areassuffer from this air pollution on regularbasis.

Heaps of garbage could be foundburning on both sides of the road, creatingclouds of thick smoke in almost alllocalities of the city. It was also observedthat garbage was burnt on regular basis atthose vacant plots of residential areaswhere either the people throw theirdomestic waste or sanitary workers use itas ‘garbage transfer stations’.

Despite ban, the cited practice iscontinued because the agenciesconcerned have failed to ensure strictimplementation of the related rules.

The smoke is a known health andenvironmental hazard and its inhalationmight cause irritation and asthmaticattacks, and increases long-term healthrisks for especially those suffering fromrespiratory problems.

Source: http://jang.com.pk/thenews/mar2005-daily/21-03-2005/metro/

k10.htm

E-WASTE PROBLEM INASIA-PACIFIC

An expert group meeting on ‘E-wasteManagement in Asia and the Pacific’ washeld from June 22 to 23 2004, at UnitedNations Environment Programme (UNEP)Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand. Themeeting organized by UNEP, was attendedby experts from the U.S.A., China, India,Thailand and Japan, among others. TheUNEP, in collaboration with the variousgovernments in the region, expertinstitutions, and relevant agencies, hasplans to promote e-waste management inAsia and the Pacific by initiating aregional level activity for knowledge-sharing.

Objectives of the meeting included:

· Assessment of e-wastes at the nationaland sub-regional levels.

· Discussion of strategy for promotinge-waste management in the region.

A number of Asian countries aregenerally considered to be the main

importers of e-wastes generated aroundthe world. Importing countries try to earnsignificant income from refurbishing usedPCs and disassembling obsolete PCs,monitors, and circuit boards and thenrecovering the gold, copper and otherprecious metals.

The environmentally soundmanagement of electronic wastes is animportant element of the Strategic Plannow being developed by the membergovernments of the Basel Convention.The UNEP Regional Strategy for Asia andthe Pacific has identified e-waste as anemerging environmental issue for theregion. Despite the initiatives by someof the countries, agencies with themandate on waste management in theregion, have no specific knowledge ofcomposition of e-wastes and theirmanagement.

A recent study by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency showsthat e-waste already forms approximatelyone per cent of the municipal solid wastestream. Research also shows that thegeneration of e-waste in Europe isincreasing three times faster than othermunicipal waste.

India generates 1,050 tons ofelectronic scrap a year and although awide range of environmental legislationsare available, more attention should bepaid to tackling electronic waste. Theshare of electronics in generation ofoverall industrial waste may not be veryhigh at this stage but it is necessary for usto take preventive steps to contain thisbefore it reaches unmanageableproportions.

The concept of environmentalmanagement through use of cleanertechnologies initiated jointly byDepartment of Information Technology,Govt. of India and United NationsDevelopment Programme is a welcomestep, which will ensure reduction in thewaste generation.

Source: www.toxicslink.org


INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OFENVIRONMENTAL BOTANISTS

(National Botanical Research Institute,Lucknow-226001, India)

President :Dr. P. Pushpangadan

Vice Presidents :Dr. S.C. Sharma

Prof. C.K. VarshneyProf. H.N. Verma

Secretary :Dr. K.J. Ahmad

Joint Secretaries :Dr. Mrs. Kamla Kulshreshtha

Dr. Mrs. Seshu Lavania

Treasurer :Dr. Prakash Chandra

Executive Editor :Dr. H.M. Behl

Members of the Executive :Prof. Mrs. Madhoolika Agrawal

Dr. Ms. Shashi DhawanDr. Mrs. Anjum Farooqui

Prof. M. IqbalProf. Shashi Kant

Prof. N.K. MehrotraDr. L.M.S. PalniProf. S.H. RazaDr. R.D. TripathiProf. C.L. Verma

Prof. Mohd. YunusAdvisors :

Prof. J.N.B. BellProf. Richard F.E. Crang

Prof. S.V. KrupaProf. W.J. Manning

Prof. Sir Ghillean T. PranceDr. P.V. SaneDr. B.P. Singh

Awareness Programme Committee :Ms. Kanti Srivastava (Convener)

Printed and Published byDr. K.J. Ahmad

for International Societyof Environmental Botanists,

National Botanical Research Institute,Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226001, India

Executive Editor :Dr. H.M. Behl

Editors :

Dr. R.D. TripathiDr. Mrs. Kamla Kulshreshtha

Dr. Amit PalMr. Deepak Wahal

National Botanical Research InstituteLucknow, India.

Tel. 2205831-35 Extn. 223, Fax : 2205836E-mail : [email protected]

Website : http://www.geocities.com/isebindia/index.html

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Tibetan Medicinal PlantsEdited by Christia Kletter andMonika KreicherMedpharm ScientificPublishers Stuttgart, Germany

2001ISBN3-88763-067-xPrice: • 138

Invasive Plant Species of theWorld. A Reference Guide toEnvironmental WeedsBy E .W. WeberCABI Publishing, U.S.A.2003ISBN 0-85199-697-7Price: US $ 75.00

Loss of BiodiversityEdited by Sharon L. Spray &Karen L. McGlothum,Rawman & LittlefieldPpublishers, Oxford, U.K.

2003ISBN 0-7425-2567-8Price: £ 65.00

Milestones in SystematicsThe Systematic AssociationSpecial Volumes Series 67David M. Williams & PeterL. Izorey CRC Press2004ISBN 0-415-28032-xPrice: US $ 95.00

Bioterrorism and FoodSafetyBy Barbara A. Rasco & GleynE. BledsoeCRC Press2004ISBN 0-8493-2797-3Price: US $ 99.95

BOOKSXV International Plant Nutrition ColloquiumPlant Nutrition for Food Security, HumanHealth and Environmental ProtectionSeptember 14 – 19, 2005Contact: Dr. Guohua MI,Department of Plant Nutrition, College ofResources & Environmental ChinaChina Agricultural University, Beijing 1000 94,P.R. ChinaE-mail: [email protected]: www.ipnc15.com

7th Global Conference on EnvironmentalEducationSeptember 19 – 23, 2005, Hotel Holiday Inn –Agra, IndiaContact: Indian Environmental SocietyU-112, Vidhata House (3rd Floor), Vikas Marg,Shakurpur, Delhi-110 092Phone: (91-11) 22450749, 22046823,22046824; Fax: (91-11) 22523311E-mail: [email protected]; Website:www.iesglobal.org, www.globeindia.org

7th International CO2 Conference26–30 September 2005, Bonlder, Co, USAContact: http://www.mountain.conf.uhi.ac.uk/

6th Open Meeting of the Human Dimensions ofGlobal Environmental Change ResearchCommunityOctober 9 – 13, 2005, Bonn, GermanyContact: http://www.ihdp.org

Professional Development Programme onEnvironmental Laws in India – Interpretationand ImplementationOctober 26 – 28, 2005, Hyderabad, IndiaContact: Ms. Marina N. HepsibaCourse [email protected][email protected]

1st DIVERSITAS International Conference onBiodiversityIntegrating Biodiversity Science for Humanwell-beingNovember 9 –12, 2005, Oxaxaca, MexicoContact: [email protected]

Greenhouse 2005: Action on Climate ControlNovember 13–17, 2005, Melbourne, AustraliaContact: http://www.greenhouse2005.com

6th International Conference onBiodeterioration of Cultural Property (ICBCP-6)Organized by International Council ofBiodeterioration of Cultural PropertyIndia, 2005 (Date to be decided later)Contact: The Editor/The Secretary ICBCPLucknow, India<[email protected]>

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