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Genesis and Objectives
Many of the concerns faced by the developed countries in the past are now
shifting to developing countries. Among the scourges faced by mankind today,
environmental pollution is in the forefront. In the greater part of the last
century it was the fast pace of industrialization, galloping demand for
energy and reckless exploitation of natural resources in developed countries
that were mainly responsible for creating the problem of environmental
pollution.
Our current scenario is, however, vastly different, as widespread poverty,
illiteracy and burgeoning population are leading to increasing environmental
pollution at a pace which was unimaginable only two decades earlier. The
threat of global warming is now being felt across the world, and
geographical or political boundaries are no longer relevant in this present
scenario. When it comes to the hazards of environmental pollution, there is
only a very thin dividing line between developed and developing countries.
One pollutes and the other suffers – there are no eventual winners without
significant changes globally.
This Conference aims to provide an international forum for serious
discussions and deliberations on the burning problem of environmental
pollution, the emerging role of plants in pollution indication and
remediation, and such related issues as biodiversity conservation,
sustainable development, climate change and the effects of pollution on
agriculture, food productivity, forestry and human health.
India, with a population well over a billion people, is home to one-sixth of
the world’s humanity. It is a developing country; where its teeming millions
suffer greatly from poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition resulting in
severe degradation of environmental quality and ill health. However, with
its strong industrial base, sound infrastructure and phenomenal progress in
science and technology, it is poised to become a developed country in the
not too distant future. It is, therefore, ideally suited to host a
conference of this type and magnitude. Because of its sheer size and
population, what India does today will have its impact on the entire planet
tomorrow. This is especially significant in the areas of environment,
biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The entire global
community, therefore, has a vested interest in supporting and sustaining any
move for the protection of environment and biodiversity conservation.
Earlier Conferences:
To improve communication and to exchange information between
scientists from various parts of the world, an
International Conference on Plants and
Environmental Pollution (ICPEP-1) was jointly organized by International
Society of Environmental Botanists and National Botanical Research Institute
Lucknow, India during 26-30 November 1996. This highly successful
Conference, organized for the first time in this field in India, was
co-sponsored by several prestigious international agencies and attended by
nearly 200 delegates from India, U.K., U.S.A., Canada, Germany, France,
Japan, Sweden, Greece, Slovakia, Russia, Philippines, The Netherlands,
Malaysia, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
On the conclusion of the deliberations of ICPEP-1, the delegates
widely appreciated the genesis and outcome of the Conference, and
unanimously recommended to the organizers (ISEB and NBRI), to organize such
international conferences on a regular basis after an interval of three
years or so. This suggestion was accepted by the authorities of NBRI and
ISEB.
The Second International Conference on
Plants & Environmental Pollution (ICPEP-2), was organized at the
National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (India) from February 4-9,
2002. This Conference, which was jointly organized by NBRI and ISEB, was
co-sponsored by some 11 national and international organizations. Some 300
participants including 50 scientists from 21 countries outside India,
attended the Conference. Noted Indian scientist and father of India’s “Green
Revolution” Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, F.R.S. inaugurated the conference and
gave the opening address on “Biodiversity: An effective safety net against
environmental pollution”. Some eight technical sessions and two satellite
sessions, besides a valedictory session, were held during the five-day
Conference. In addition to the many oral presentations, lead lectures and
invited lectures from some distinguished scientists across the globe, 130
posters were displayed (mainly by students) at the Conference.
The diverse scientific interests of the Conference participants and
consequently its technical content served as the basis for international
communication and exchange of ideas. Some 300 delegates from Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Finland, Germany, India, Iran,
Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, U.K.,
U.S.A., Uzbekistan and Venezuela left the Conference with a
better mutual understanding of the overall issues and the need for
future collaboration.
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