Press Releases 2005

International Workshop on Hill Conservation in Shimla August 24-26

23 August 2005

NEW DELHI - Delegates from South Asian nations and the United States will participate in a three-day international workshop on "Conserving Hill and Mountain Ecology" beginning in Shimla tomorrow.

The United States Educational Foundation in India (USEFI) has organized the August 24-26 workshop in association with the Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. The workshop will focus on sharing ideas and experiences in hill and mountain ecology conservation. It will also aim at finding appropriate technical solutions and adapting existing technologies to local problems.

Participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will participate in the workshop along with U.S. and Indian experts. Mr. Adnan A. Siddiqi, Cultural Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy, New Delhi and Chairman of USEFI Board of Directors; Prof. Jane E. Schukoske, Executive Director, USEFI; Prof. L. R. Verma, Vice Chancellor, H. P. University and Dr. Hemant Gupta, Regional Director, Forest Survey of India will address participants at the inaugural session of the workshop. 

USEFI is organizing this workshop under its Fulbright Indo-American Environmental Leadership Program, funded by a grant from the U.S. Embassy, which supports fellowships and conferences for environmentalists to build expertise and capacity in contemporary areas related to environment.

Other eminent speakers at the workshop include Ms. Aisha Khan, President, Mountain and Glacier Protection Organization, Pakistan; Mr. John Sims, Managing Director, Himalaya Ski Village Project, Manali; Prof. Amena Mohsin, Dhaka University; Mr. Sonam Tshering, Forest Department, Royal Government of Bhutan and Mr. Ranawana, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
 
The workshop offers a platform for discussion of hill and mountain ecology issues of regional concern. Involving Fulbright scholars and other experts from the fields of conservation techniques, best practices, cost effective technologies, laws governing conservation, economics, and other related areas, the workshop will draw on the multiple perspectives and professional experiences of participants to share best practices and develop feasible solutions for conserving hill ecology.