Trends in Plant Science publishes articles here prior to final publication in an issue. The articles have been copyedited and incorporate the authors final corrections. Please cite articles using the format: authors, (year), title, journal, DOI.
source:
http://www.cell.com/trends/plant-science/newarticles
Friday, October 16, 2009
Environmental research for decades
Environmental research for decades
By Rev.Dr.S John Britto SJ
Tropical ecosystems support a diversity of species and ecological processes that are unparallelled anywhere else on earth but they are rapidly disappearing. My environmental research for the past 25 years has been focused along these lines: a critical knowledge on the structure and functioning of south Indian plant diversity, through enlisting plant species, forest type mapping using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System; analysis of the nature and magesitude of anthropogenic effects on south Indian ecosystems and adoption of it in situ and ex situ conservation measures to restore back to nature the threatened and rare plant species. While adopting these measures, the research collaboration undertaken by me at the national level on the DBT and ISRO sponsored Project on Biodiversity analysis at landscape level in the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats of India was an eye opener. It showed how the evolution and development of effective strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable management of biodiversity should be integrated with social necessities, social sciences and traditional knowledge. Hence I have extended my research to environmental wisdom of the tribals, ethno-medicine and research on sacred groves.
For the past two decades and half, my environmental research in association with late Fr K M Matthew, SJ has resulted in the Illustrated Flora of Tamil Nadu (7 volumes) as a plant diversity source book for the region. I have published more than 100 research papers, authored 5 books, and co-authored 7 books. Extensive field work during 1976-1988 was done in the lowlands and the Palni Hills, the montane counterpart. A field flora in English and later in Tamil helped 'door delivery' of knowledge of diversity to ordinary people. Research base at the Rapinat Herbarium of St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu houses more than 125,000 collections and is widely used as a research base. It has been recognized and approval by the Bharathidasan University as an independent Institution to undertake environmental research. More than 30 major environmental research Projects have been completed since 1970 till date.Our interaction with world centres like Kew gardens, UK, besides ensuring international standards of work, has facilitated a flow of publications from other parts of the world. The Herbarium's hill laboratory 'The Anglade Institute of Natural History' in Sacred Heart College, Shembaganur, has undertaken a mammoth environmental awareness generation programme. Since 1984 till date more than 67,000 trainees have participated. Trainees are of two main groups: students, the executives of tomorrow and villagers, the custodians of environment today. The Institute is actively engaged in conservation research and ecorestoration of 16 endangered plant species of the Palni Hills. In collaboration with the Palni Hills Conservation Council, as its Vice President, I am in the process of getting Palni Hills declared as a Nature Sanctuary and also the creation of 'Kurinji Reserve' incorporating the grasslands of the southern slopes of Palni Hills.
(Fr. S. John Britto, SJ, the former Principal of St Joseph's College, Trichy, is now the Director of Rapinat Herb and Anglade Institute Research Trichy.)
source: http://www.jcsaonline.com/jivanJul06.htm
By Rev.Dr.S John Britto SJ
Tropical ecosystems support a diversity of species and ecological processes that are unparallelled anywhere else on earth but they are rapidly disappearing. My environmental research for the past 25 years has been focused along these lines: a critical knowledge on the structure and functioning of south Indian plant diversity, through enlisting plant species, forest type mapping using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System; analysis of the nature and magesitude of anthropogenic effects on south Indian ecosystems and adoption of it in situ and ex situ conservation measures to restore back to nature the threatened and rare plant species. While adopting these measures, the research collaboration undertaken by me at the national level on the DBT and ISRO sponsored Project on Biodiversity analysis at landscape level in the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats of India was an eye opener. It showed how the evolution and development of effective strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable management of biodiversity should be integrated with social necessities, social sciences and traditional knowledge. Hence I have extended my research to environmental wisdom of the tribals, ethno-medicine and research on sacred groves.
For the past two decades and half, my environmental research in association with late Fr K M Matthew, SJ has resulted in the Illustrated Flora of Tamil Nadu (7 volumes) as a plant diversity source book for the region. I have published more than 100 research papers, authored 5 books, and co-authored 7 books. Extensive field work during 1976-1988 was done in the lowlands and the Palni Hills, the montane counterpart. A field flora in English and later in Tamil helped 'door delivery' of knowledge of diversity to ordinary people. Research base at the Rapinat Herbarium of St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu houses more than 125,000 collections and is widely used as a research base. It has been recognized and approval by the Bharathidasan University as an independent Institution to undertake environmental research. More than 30 major environmental research Projects have been completed since 1970 till date.Our interaction with world centres like Kew gardens, UK, besides ensuring international standards of work, has facilitated a flow of publications from other parts of the world. The Herbarium's hill laboratory 'The Anglade Institute of Natural History' in Sacred Heart College, Shembaganur, has undertaken a mammoth environmental awareness generation programme. Since 1984 till date more than 67,000 trainees have participated. Trainees are of two main groups: students, the executives of tomorrow and villagers, the custodians of environment today. The Institute is actively engaged in conservation research and ecorestoration of 16 endangered plant species of the Palni Hills. In collaboration with the Palni Hills Conservation Council, as its Vice President, I am in the process of getting Palni Hills declared as a Nature Sanctuary and also the creation of 'Kurinji Reserve' incorporating the grasslands of the southern slopes of Palni Hills.
(Fr. S. John Britto, SJ, the former Principal of St Joseph's College, Trichy, is now the Director of Rapinat Herb and Anglade Institute Research Trichy.)
source: http://www.jcsaonline.com/jivanJul06.htm
Award for Tiruchi botanist
Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004
TIRUCHI, OCT.4. K.M. Mathew, a renowned botanist of Tiruchi, was conferred with the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar for 2002 under the `individual' category posthumously.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests gave the award at a function held in New Delhi recently to mark the `International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer' held in New Delhi recently.
The unique honour, bestowed for the first time on an individual from Tamil Nadu, comprised a trophy, a citation and a cash award of Rs.5 lakhs.
The Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Namo Narain Meena, gave away the award to Fr. S. John Britto, Principal, St. Joseph's College, who is also the director of the Rapinet Herbarium in Tiruchi, a plant diversity research base, and the Anglade Institute of Natural History, an environmental base at Shembaganur on Palani Hills.
Fr. Mathew, founder of the bases, died on April 16, 2004. The works initiated by Fr. Mathew will continue, said Fr. John Britto, also a botanist.
Born into a family of farmers on March 16, 1930 in Kerala, Fr. Mathew completed his school education at St. Augustine's High School, Ramapuram, and moved to Tiruchi for higher studies.
He joined the Jesuit Religious Order in 1950 as a botany graduate. During 1950-57 when he was undergoing Jesuit training at Shembaganur, he got acquainted himself with the plant wealth of the Palani Hills in the Western Ghats.
Through the Rapinet Herbarium, he spread the gospel of ecological conservation through many of his publications, and implemented his insightful outreach programme on `Environmental Education' at the Anglade Institute of Natural History in Kodaikanal. Nearly 65,000 participants were trained at the Institute in environmental awareness and conservation.
Fr. Mathew was a man of clear vision and commitment, and powerful witness to the culture of science that leads to the making of a life, not merely a living, Fr. John Britto said.
source: http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/05/stories/2004100513480300.htm
TIRUCHI, OCT.4. K.M. Mathew, a renowned botanist of Tiruchi, was conferred with the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar for 2002 under the `individual' category posthumously.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests gave the award at a function held in New Delhi recently to mark the `International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer' held in New Delhi recently.
The unique honour, bestowed for the first time on an individual from Tamil Nadu, comprised a trophy, a citation and a cash award of Rs.5 lakhs.
The Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Namo Narain Meena, gave away the award to Fr. S. John Britto, Principal, St. Joseph's College, who is also the director of the Rapinet Herbarium in Tiruchi, a plant diversity research base, and the Anglade Institute of Natural History, an environmental base at Shembaganur on Palani Hills.
Fr. Mathew, founder of the bases, died on April 16, 2004. The works initiated by Fr. Mathew will continue, said Fr. John Britto, also a botanist.
Born into a family of farmers on March 16, 1930 in Kerala, Fr. Mathew completed his school education at St. Augustine's High School, Ramapuram, and moved to Tiruchi for higher studies.
He joined the Jesuit Religious Order in 1950 as a botany graduate. During 1950-57 when he was undergoing Jesuit training at Shembaganur, he got acquainted himself with the plant wealth of the Palani Hills in the Western Ghats.
Through the Rapinet Herbarium, he spread the gospel of ecological conservation through many of his publications, and implemented his insightful outreach programme on `Environmental Education' at the Anglade Institute of Natural History in Kodaikanal. Nearly 65,000 participants were trained at the Institute in environmental awareness and conservation.
Fr. Mathew was a man of clear vision and commitment, and powerful witness to the culture of science that leads to the making of a life, not merely a living, Fr. John Britto said.
source: http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/05/stories/2004100513480300.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
