Unexplored Indian Forest Canopies: Are we dealing with an eclipsed view of our biodiversity?

Researchers investigating the facets of forest canopies from various parts of the globe need a common platform under which interactions can be fostered and synthesized. Till date, four international conferences have been organized, at intervals of four to five years, hosted by different venues across the globe. The meetings have successfully convened scientists, environmental managers, arborists, and policy-makers concerned with the discovery and sustainable use of forests around the world. The 5th international canopy conference will be organized by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, (ATREE), in Bangalore, India. ATREE . This is the firsy time is held in Asia.s

The goals of the conference are to highlight the relevance of canopy research with respect to important global challenges, especially climate change, sustainability and conservation. Hence, the integration of canopy science with natural science, social science and information technology is critical. The conference provides an opportunity to build networks across continents, which will facilitate capacity building and foster collaboration using information from multiple sites, within countries and across continents.

The theme for this conference is Forest Canopies: Conservation, Climate Change and Sustainable Use. The conference will focus on the following thematic areas of forest canopies, organized across various sessions:

Canopy biodiversity and conservation
Structure and function of the canopy
Canopies and climate change
Sustainable use of goods and services of forest canopies
Canopy eco-tourism and education outreach

The theme of the 2009 International Canopy Conference revolves around the conservation of forest canopies, their implications for climate change, and the sustainable use of these habitats. Natural elements have been chosen to pictorially imbibe this theme into the conference logo. A highlighted alphabet, C, in the logo, signifies many associations of the canopy conference (CC) including the terms, the canopy, climate, community, conservation and the conference. The Western Ghat endemic lion-tailed macaque and a hornbill signify contrastingly visible flagship species. A tree canopy interfaced with the rain clouds depicts climate change. A biologist scales the heady heights of the canopy using the single rope technique, while a woman with a basket on her head, collecting non-timber forest produce, signifies goods and services offered by the forest canopies.

Canopy Science is just emerging field in India. There is to need a build interest and leadership among young researchers. This encourage interactions among young researchers, a student symposium is being organized as a pre-conference event under the theme, Canopyscape : Current trends in canopy research and exploration.

The world of canopy science is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field engaging numerous scientific disciplines and applying them to unlock the mysteries of the world’s forests and treetops. The canopies beckon the inquisitive and the adventurous. By integrating all fields of scientific investigation, research is this diverse area of study ranges from general specimen collecting, discovering new species, and writing life history ethograms to sophisticated population modelling, nutrient cycling patterns, and ecological impacts in a changing world. This symposium is an excellent opportunity for students and young researchers just beginning their careers in this exciting and adventurous field to present their independent research at a scientific conference, interact with each other and our panel of experts, and gain valuable feedback on their future goals and aspirations. All interested in engaging their peers are encouraged to be present at this symposium.