Our ability to manage gene flow within traditional agroecosystems and their repercussions requires understanding the biology of crops, including farming practices' role in crop ecology. That these practices' effects on crop population genetics have not been quantified bespeaks lack of an appropriate analytical framework. We use a model that construes seed-management practices as part of a crop's demography to describe the dynamics of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Cauca, Colombia.

The country’s north eastern region is rich in medicinal plants, but indiscriminate and unscientific collection is forcing many of the species into the verge of extinction, according to experts.

Independent India inherited a structure of landholdings characterised by heavy concentration of cultivable areas in the hands of relatively large absentee landowners, the excessive fragmentation of small landholdings, growing number of landless agricultural workers, and the lack of any generalised system of documentary evidence of landownership or tenancy.

A recent article in Current Science for a unified academy of sciences in India
begins with a reference to the uproar caused by the inter-academy report on
genetically modified (GM) crops. While the case for a unified academy is most
welcome, increased participation of scientists would be of help in providing
useful inputs on national issues involving science and technology. (Correspondence)

KOLKATA: Several trees of the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Botanical Gardens, the oldest in the country, were reduced to cinders in a fire that lasted over two hours here on Saturday.

While officials of the gardens claimed that not more than half-a-dozen trees, none of which was

Steven Morris

Conservationists have warned that mistletoe, favourite plant both of pagans and stealers of Christmas kisses, could vanish from the U.K.'s halls and doorways within 20 years.

The National Trust fears that the decline of traditional apple orchards, where mistletoe thrives, may lead to the parasitic plant disappearing

Due to frequent newspaper reports about violence in Bastar region due to conflicts between leftist extremists and state agencies, there was a palpable fear in the air. Some of the older shodhyatris were deterred by the incidents which happened only a few days before the commencement of the yatra.

Plant genetic resources (PGR) scientists now recognize the importance of shifting from a singular focus on conservation to a focus on both conservation and utilization of germplasm in order to meet future challenges.

Biodiversity is rapidly declining, and this may negatively affect ecosystem processes, including economically important ecosystem services. Previous studies have shown that biodiversity has positive effects on organisms and processes4 across trophic levels. However, only a few studies have so far incorporated an explicit food-web perspective.

The project is being implemented in three Indian States, Uttarakhand,
Arunachal Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. This brochure contains project profile of Uttarakhand. The project aims to mainstream the long-term conservation, sustainable and equitable use of medicinal plant diversity into forest management policy and practice at the national, state and local level.

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