HERBS WORTH MILLIONS FRITTER AWAY- NEPAL

Although forests in Dhusha, Jogimara and Mahadevsthan of Dhading, central Nepal are rich in precious herbs like Pakhanbed (Saxifraga ligulata), Gaikhure (Tribulus terrestris) and Thulo-okhati (Astilbe rivularis), locals are not being able to reap benefits due to lack of knowledge on their conservation and extraction. According to Nepal Chepang Association, those species are unknowingly being used for firewood, fodder and some simply rot in the forest.

November 17

http://epaper.thehimalayantimes.com/Details.aspx?id=3557&boxid=31436126

INCREASING POLLUTION IN LUMBINI- NEPAL

One of the important religious and historical sites of Nepal, Lumbini in western Nepal is being hit hard by increasing pollution due to the industries and movement of vehicles in it’s vicinity. Furthermore, uses of generators in Bihar (monastery) areas are further deteriorating the air quality. According to the archaeologist, worshipping with flowers will pollute those sites and it must be stopped as soon as possible. While journalists have suggested Lumbini Development Trust to manage the garbage daily to maintain the beauty of the site.

November 17

http://therisingnepal.org.np/epaper/showimage?img=uploads/epaper/2014-11-18/8a9349ebf39c2514db710b56327a0a36.jpg

PostDoc position on modelling land biosphere dynamics

The Mediterranean Institute for Biodiversity and Ecology (IMBE, Aix-Marseille University, Aix-en-Provence, France), in its research group "Macroecology and Biogeography of Global Change (MacroBio)" has a PostDoc position open for applications. The post has a duration of 36 months, the initial contract is made for 18 months, being extended based on an assessment of performance. The position is funded by the European Commission through the FP7 Research Project LUC4C and affiliated to the French National Scientific Research Centre (CNRS).

YOUNG SCIENTISTS @ BIODIVERSITY SCIENCE-POLICY INTERFACES

We are an international and interdisciplinary network of early career scientists interested and engaged in science-policy interfaces (SPIs*) related to global biodiversity policy. We focus on institutions such as the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). We warmly welcome other early career scientists (ECS) interested in those topics to join the network.

Coordination  Dr. Katja Heubach :: katja.heubach@ufz.de 
 https://www.facebook.com/biodivspis 

2nd All Africa Youth Conference On Environment and Climate Change: “Climate change will hit Africa”

YOUTH ENVIRONMENT CARE VOLUNTARY

2nd All Africa Youth Conference On Environment and Climate Change:
“Climate change will hit Africa”
20-21 MARCH 2015, African Union Headquarters, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Empowering youth to explore their potential in accelerating education on Climate Change

CGRFA 15 Seminar 'Towards The State of the World's Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture'

Immediately preceding the 15th regular session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), this information seminar will focus on biodiversity and food security.  

2015 International Year of Soils Launch

The 68th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils (IYS). The IYS will be formally launched in an event organized during the 69th session of the UNGA, on 5 December 2014, in New York, US. Concurrent launch events will be held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) in Rome, Italy, as well as in Bangkok, Thailand, and elsewhere in the world. The launch date coincides with the World Soil Day (WSD). The IYS 2015 will promote awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions.