(First Round)

It is our great pleasure to invite you to the Sixth National Symposium on Ethnobotany and The Fifth Asia-Pacific Forum on Ethnobotany, held in Yinchuan on August 5-7, 2012.

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. The Fifth National Symposium on Ethnobotany and The Fourth Asia-Pacific Forum on Ethnobotany were held in September, 2010, in Beijing, focused on the development of ethnobotany and conservation of traditional knowledge. Under the decision of the Chinese Ethnobotany Association. The Sixth National Symposium on Ethnobotany and The Fifth Asia-Pacific Forum on Ethnobotany are going to be held on August 5-7, 2012, in Yinchuan. The major issue discussed would be ethnobotany and traditional knowledge.

1. Symposium theme and sub-topics

Symposium theme: Ethnobotany and Ethno-medicine

Sub-topics: Research trends and advances of ethnobotany; Traditional ethno-medical knowledge and sustainable use of resources; The relationship of biodiversity and cultural diversity; Sustainable use of plant resources in ethnic minority areas; Conservation and sustainable use of plant resources in arid areas　

2. Symposium co-organizers

Organizers: Chinese Ethnobotany Association (CEA); l Ningxia Medicinal University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China

Host Institutions: College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medicinal University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China; General Hospital of Ningxia Medicinal University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China

Co-organizers: Branch of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Chinese Society of Environmental Science; Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Research Center on Natural and Cultural Heritages, Institute of Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences; College of Pharmacy, The Second Military Medical University; Jiangsu Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing Institute of Wild Plant Integrated Uses, Ministry of Commerce; Minzu university of China; AsianGreen Culture International Exchange Promotion Association; Xinjiang Botany Society.

3.  Symposium Organization

Honorary Chair: Shengji PEI, Chair, Chinese Association of Ethnobotany; Professor, KIB, CAS.

Chair: Tao Sun, Present, Ningxia Medical University

Co-chair: Wannian Zhang, Dean and Professor, College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University

Academic Committee

Chair: Dezhu Li, Vice-Chair, Chinese Association of Ethnobotany; Director, KIB, CAS

Vice-Chair: Rongbo Pan, Chair, Xinjiang Botany Society; Professor, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, CAS

　　　　　　　　　  Weiming Zhang, Dean, Nanjing Institute of Wild Plant Integrated Uses, Ministry of Commerce

　　　　　　　　　　Luping Qin: Chair, Shanhai Botany Society; Professor, College of Pharmacy, The Second Military Medical University

Members: Hasibagen: Director, Institute of Ethnobotany, Inner Mongolia Normal University

　　　　　　　　  Daofeng Chen: Professor, College of Pharmacy, Fudan University

　　　　　　　　  Yongping Yang: Vice-director, institute of Tibetan Plateau, Chinese Academy of Sciences

　　　　　　　　  Youwei Wang: Professor, Wuhan University

Organizing Committee

Secretary General: Chunlin Long: Professor, College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China; Researcher, KIB, CAS

Deputy Secretary General: Wenjiang Liu: Researcher, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, CAS; Guidong Dai: Vice- Dean and Professor, College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University.

Members: Zhiwei Yang, Jinchao Feng, Bing Xia, Yuanpeng Zhang, Botao Zhao, Baokang Huang, Aijun He, Xueyan Fu, Jing Chen, Caifang Zhang, Yunsheng Zhao.

4. Call for papers

Content: Line with the theme and the sub-topics of the symposium

Deadline

The abstract in both English and Chinese (no more than 500 words) is required to submit before the deadline of July 20, 2012. In addition, the full paper is required to submit before the deadline of July 30, 2012. The E-mail mzzwxlt@163.com is set for receiving abstract and full paper. The E-mail receiver is Xiaojuan Gao. Please indicate “abstract” in the E-mail.

The unified structure format ofabstract in both English and Chinese is included objective, methods, results, conclusion and keywords.

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: August 5^th-7^th, 2012

Aug 5　　  Symposium registration

Aug 6-7　  National Symposium on Ethnobotany and Asia-Pacific Forum on Ethnobotany

Aug 8-10  Post-Symposium tour:Sand Lake, The town of Fort Western Film City, Xixia Imperial Tombs, et al. Participants are responsible for their own expenses of the post-symposium tours.

Venue: Ningxia Union Building

Address: Jiefang East Street

Tel: 0951-4010440　　

We will stay for the train and aircraft throughout the day of Aug, 5^th, 2012.

7. Registration fees and contact information

Attachment 1: The Sixth National Symposium on Ethnobotany, and

The Fifth Asia-Pacific Forum on Ethnobotany

Participation Confirmation

(First Round) 

Participation confirmation must be sent to secretary of the conference by mail or e-mail to mzzwxlt@163.com before July 20, 2012.