It is our great pleasure to invite you to the Fifth National Symposium on Ethnobotany and the Fourth Asia-Pacific Forum on Ethnobotany, held in Beijing on September 10-13, 2010.

Ethnobotany, a newly-emerged interdisciplinary research area between social and natural sciences, looks into the relationship between mankind and plants. As a result of farming and living practices, China, a country with a history of 5,000 years and 56 ethnic groups, is rich in traditional knowledge (TK), innovations and practices on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In particular, traditional medicine (TM) in China, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and ethnomedicines, is stereotypical TK known to the world. At present, TK has become a hotspot issue in such international conventions as Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), and relative forums under WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), attracting increasing attention from the international society. It is well known that the research of ethnobotany, which is developed on the basis of discovering and using TK, is closely related to the latter. The research results of ethnobotany have proved the solid foundation and wide application of TK. As a result, it is important to enhance the research of ethnobotany and promote the application and development of TK. At the same time, practical and appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of TK as well as its conservation and inheritance.

The Preparatory Committee of Chinese Association of Ethnobotany was established in October 2002 and followed by the First National Research and Development Symposium on Ethnobotany in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, focusing on ethnobotany of natural product research and development. The Second National Symposium on Ethnobotany and the First Asia-Pacific Forum on Ethnobotany were held in August, 2004, in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, focused on ethnbotany and sustainable use of botanical resources. The Third National Symposium on Ethnobotany and The Second Asia-Pacific Forum on Ethnobotany were held in November, 2006, in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, focused on ethnobotany and medicinal plants. The Fourth National Symposium on Ethnobotany and The Third Asia-Pacific Forum on Ethnobotany were held in August, 2008, in Urumqi, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, focused on ethnobotany and agrobiodiversity. Under the decision of the Chinese Ethnobotany Association, The Fifth National Symposium on Ethnobotany and The Fourth Asia-Pacific Forum on Ethnobotany are going to be held on September 10-13, 2010, in Beijing. The major issue discussed would be ethnobotany and traditional knowledge.

1. Symposium theme and sub-topics

Symposium theme:

The development of ethnobotany and conservation of traditional knowledge

Sub-topics

• Research methodology and research progress of ethnobotany
• The development of ethnobotany and application of TK
• Research progress on ethnic medicine
• Traditional knowledge and conservation on biodiversity
• Access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge
• Conservation and inheritance of TK and intellectual property rights

2. Symposium co-organizers

Organizers: 

• Chinese Association of Ethnobotany 
• Minzu University of China

Host Institutions:

• College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China
• China Institute of Environment and Resources Protection in the Ethnic Areas

Co-organizers:

• Branch of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Chinese Society of Environmental Science
• Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Research Center on Natural and Cultural Heritages, Institute of Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Pharmaceuticals Research Center, The Second Military Medical University
• United Nations University
• Third World Network (TWN)
• Nanjing Institute of Wild Plant Integrated Uses, Ministry of Commerce.
• Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, China Ministry of Environmental Protection
• Institute of Ethnobotany, Inner Mongolia Normal University

　　　　　  (to be added)

3.  Symposium Organization

Academic committee:

Chair: Shengji PEI, Chair, Chinese Association of Ethnobotany; Professor, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Members: (listed alphabetically)

Jinchao FENG, Dean and Professor, College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China

Hasibagen, Dean and Professor, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia Normal University

Huyin HUAI, Professor, College of Life Sciences, Yangzhou University 　　　　

Qingwen MIN, Professor, Institute of Geological Sciences and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Luohui LIANG, Senior Expert, United Nations University

Chunlin LONG, Professor, College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China; and Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Peng LUO, Professor, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Luping QIN, Professor, the Second Military Medical University

Dayuan XUE, Professor, Minzu University of China; Executive Director, Branch of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Chinese Society of Environmental; and Director, China Institute of Environment and Resources Protection in the Ethnic Areas.

Degang YANG, Professor, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Yongping YANG, Deputy Director and Professor, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Yuming YANG, Vice President and Professor, Southwest Forestry University

Linke YIN, Professor, Turpan Eremophytes Botanic Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

(to be added)

Organizational Committee:

Chair: Li CHEN, President, Minzu University of China

Executive Chair: Dayuan XUE

Members: Jinchao FENG, Chunlin LONG, Yijun Zhou, Junli WANG

Secretary General: Chunlin LONG

Deputy Secretary General: Luo GUO, Yu PENG

Secretariat: Zhiyong GUO, Kun XUE, Li WU, Zhiwei YANG

4. Call for papers

The symposium proceedings will be formally published, so the PPT and the whole report for each presentation are required before the symposium. The selected papers would be compiled into Biodiversity and Ethnobotany Issue in 2010, Acta Ecologica Sinica, with official ISSN. The paper length is required to have 5 pages in maximum. Please see Acta Ecologica Sinica (http://www.ecologica.cn) for the requirement of the format of the paper and the abstract in both English and Chinese. It is required to submit a printed copy and an electronic copy in microsoft word-fromation before the deadline of July 15, 2010.

5. Exhibition during the symposium

To promote the exchange of ethnobotanical research, the sumposium would provide display boards for exhibition to present the research progress of ethnobotany, including research works and achievements. Organizations and individuals interested in the exhibition are encouraged contact symposium secretariat.

6. Symposium dates, venue and other issues

Dates: September 10-13, 2010

Sept 10　　　　　　　Pre-symposium Lectures on Ethnobotany and TK by senior experts

　　　　　　　　　　 Symposium Registration

Sept 11　　　　　　　5th National Ethnobotanical Symposium

Sept 12 morning　　　  5th National Ethnobotanical Symposium

Sept 12 afternoon　　  4th Asian-pacific Ethnobotanical Forum

Sept 13　　　　　　　New Beijing Tour organized by the symposium organizers.

Venue: Three Gorges Conference Hall, Beijing Hubei Hotel, Beijing

Address: 36 Zhong-guan-cun South Ave.

Haidian District, Beijing 100081

Tel: ++86 10 6217 2288　　 Fax: ++86 10 6217 5190

Email: hubeihotel@163.com

http://bjhbds.com/

Symposium language:

The working language of the symposium will be English and Chinese, and simultaneous translation between Chinese and English will be provided.

Post-Symposium tour

Option A: Tour to Ba Shang Grassland (Sept. 14-17)

Option B: Tour to Inner Mongolia (Sept. 14-18)

Note: Participants are responsible for their own expenses of the post-symposium tours. The travel agency will make arrangements for the accommodation, transportation and other sight-seeing activities.

Contact persons:

Miss Abby WU

Tel/fax: ++86 10 6893 1632

Mobile: ++86 138 1126 9362

Email: xue_program111@live.cn

Prof. Dayuan XUE

Tel/fax: ++86 10 6893 1632

Mobile: ++86 139 1017 6361

Email: xuedayuan@hotmail.com

Welcome to Beijing!

Please find attached the Participation Confirmation below: