[enviro-vlc] Bangalore, 5-7 Jan 2009: Invasive Plants in the Tropics : Ecology, Management and Livelihoods

[Vern Weitzel]

Event dates: Monday, 5th January 2009 09:00 AM to Tuesday, 6th January 2009 
17:00 PM

Location: Bangalore, India Contact: Announcements
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Invasive Plants in the Tropics : Ecology, Management and Livelihoods

Science

Bangalore, India - The aim is to bring researchers, practitioners and managers 
together to share and discuss the latest developments in the science, 
management, policy and utilisation of invasive plants.
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) is pleased to 
announce an international conference on `Invasive Plants in the Tropics: 
Ecology, Management and Livelihoods’scheduled for January 5th-6th 2009.

The aim is to bring researchers, practitioners and managers together to share 
and discuss the latest developments in the science, management, policy and 
utilisation of invasive plants.

Artisans will have an opportunity to exhibit creative ways of using invasives; 
students will have an opportunity to present posters of their research; and 
scientists will share the latest research information, providing for reciprocal 
exchange of knowledge.

It is hoped that the conference will lead to the building of an integrated and 
interdisciplinary approach to addressing the challenge of invasive 
species.Invasive plants are a threat to biodiversity.

They alter ecosystem functioning and the provisioning of ecosystem services, and 
can affect agricultural productivity, among other impacts.

The problems posed by invasive species could be aggravated by factors like 
climate change.

This, in turn, can add to the increasing costs incurred in invasive species 
management. Coordinated global efforts, integration of diverse approaches, and 
locale-specific solutions are needed to address the problem of invasive species.

The indigenous uses of invasive species are just as interesting and diverse as 
is the history of their introductions.

Over time, many invasive species have founda place in local livelihoods and 
culture. This choice is often the result of a complex interplay of preferences, 
assessment of opportunity costs, and other trade-offs. The conference is planned 
as a series of invited presentations arranged under the following thematic 
areas: •The ecology of invasive species and their impact on ecosystem 
functioning and ecosystem services•Management of invasive species and 
restoration of degraded ecosystems. •Utilisation of invasive species for 
livelihoods. •Policy for the prevention, management and utilisation of invasives.

Besides the invited speakers, there will be provision for a few contributed oral 
presentations as well as poster presentations.Participants are encouraged to 
bring relevant products, exhibits, films, videos for display and sales as stalls 
will be made available.

Registration costs (estimated, including meal vouchers and conference 
materials)All South countries:$125; All other countries:$250 India: Rs 2000; 
Students from India and other South countries: Rs 1000 Important dates:September 
30, 2008: Deadline for abstract Submission October 1, 2008:

All accepted presentation abstracts will be printed as a book of abstracts prior 
to the conference. A booklet on successful case studies highlighting the 
utilisation by and adaptation of local communities to invasives, will be brought 
out after the conference.Accommodation:Local hotel rooms can be arranged from 
$30 to $100 per night (TBA)

Contact: Ramesh Kannan, kannan at atree.org
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
659, 5 A Main Road,Hebbal,Bangalore-560024, Karnataka, India.
Email: info at atree.org
Phone:91-80-23530069, 23533942
Fax: 91-80-23530070
Website: www.atree.org(conference website)

Field Course:

Following the conference, ATREE will organise a 4-day field course limited to a 
maximum of 15 participants. This course is open to students, practitioners and 
others.The course will look at the ecology, management, and utilisation of 
Lantana camara. Participants will be exposed to the principles, perspective, 
methods, policies, utilisation and livelihood issues related to lantana as an 
invasive. Learnings can be easily adapted to other tropical contexts. 
Participants will learn through lectures, structured discussions, readings, 
field visits and interaction with artisans at two of ATREE’s Community-Based 
Conservation Centres, situated at the Biligiri Rangan Temple Wildlife Sanctuary 
and in the neighbouring Malai Mahadeshwara hills. Field course costs:$300 
inclusive of travel, modest accommodation, food and course material. We have a 
limited number of fellowships for deserving participants from South 
countries.Optional Field Trip (2 days and 3 nights): A 2-day trip to the 
tropical dry forests of the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary and 
the Malai Mahadeshwara Hills(MM Hills).

Both are sites of long-term ATREE work on community-based conservation. The MM 
Hills, especially, provides an opportunity to visit ATREE's lantana enterprise 
unit. ORA 3-day trip to the Vembanad lake in Kerala. It is a backwater ecosystem 
where Water hyacinth invasion is severe. Learn about ATREE’s work on 
participatory management of Wetlands

Note: These tours will be arranged if there are 8 or more confirmed participants.
Associated websites:
http://www.apafri.org/files/Invasive%20Plants%20in%20the%20Tropics%20-%201st%20A%27cement.pdf