In his welcome address Dr. Mashelkar spoke that the biological resources constitute the capital asset of a nation. "We have seen in the last couple of decades an unprecedented concern over the loss of biodiversity the world over. Information on species diversity, populations, location and extent of habitats, major threats to different species, and changes in these aspects over time are needed to develop an appropriate strategy for conserving the precious plants genetic resources which form the foundation of the countries, bioindustrial development. The development of a database on plant diversity and their availability on Internet are therefore considered to be the most important tasks for the third world nations.

Viewed against this background I consider the programme of IIN a garden based conservation of threatened plant genetic resources now launched by the Botanic Garden Conservation International assumes immense importance. I, therefore take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson, Secretary General BGCI and Mr. Richard Groves, Regional Head North India, HSBC for providing the financial support for this programme. Further I am very happy that NBRI has got the distinction of implementing this programme in India. NBRI is expected to coordinate this programme over the next four years (2003-2006). The programme envisages to establish a network of Indian botanic gardens, national database & website and thus promote plant conservation in India and help in capacity building of Indian botanic gardens and associated organizations."

Dr. Mashelkar further added that he was very happy that these important events was being launched/ inaugurated by our Hon'ble Minister of State for Science & Technology, Shri Bachi Singh Rawat and Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson, Dr. Mark Richardson from UK have come to grace the occasion.

Dr. Mashelkar also said that it is heartening to know that NBRI is releasing its publication, Legumes of South Asia, which is one of the output of an important global effort of making a database of Legumes of South Asian countries under the aegis of the International Legumes Database & Information Services (ILDIS), UK,. NBRI/ CSIR was entrusted with the development of legume database of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldives in collaboration with the University of Reading, UK and the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), Kew, UK. Dr. Mashelkar congratulated the authors Dr. Sudershan Kumar, Dr. P.V. Sane (Former Director, NBRI) and the Director NBRI for the same.

Dr. Wyse Jackson, Secretary General BGCI, in his address said, “Our planet faces an increasingly urgent crisis as its environment crumbles through the onslaught of humanity - in every country on Earth. We know for example that 60,000 to 100,000 plant species are now threatened - and this figure may well rise to two-thirds of all plants threatened by the end of the century if we don't take action.

  
 
 
 
Fig.10. Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson giving his address.
  
 

This is despite the fact that plants are the world's greatest renewable natural resource, vital for humanity
and the well-being of the future generations. Without plants there can be no life on Earth. It is therefore most appropriate that broadly based partnerships, such as Investing in Nature, involving the corporate sector, research and conservation organizations, should seek to address the threats to the world's essential ecosystem services, biodiversity, habitats, ecosystems and natural resources.

India is a remarkable country. It is one of the most populous in the world with a rich and diverse, cultural and environmental heritage. Its indigenous flora alone includes over 18,000 plant species of which some 7,000 are used as medicines, supporting primary healthcare yet at the present time as much as 10% of this flora is regarded as threatened.

  
 
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