the g b Pant Institute for Himalayan Biodiversity and Development at Kosi-Katarmal, near Almora, Uttaranchal, had recently organised a three-day national workshop to define a action plan for sustainable biodiversity development. The issues discussed included the need to make a list of Himalyan floral as well as faunal biodiversity, to identify gaps in knowledge pertaining to biodiversity, its status, use and evaluation. The need to evolve a hilly region-based development policy for the region was emphasised by L m s Palni, the institute's director. S P Singh of the Botany department of Kumaon University, Nainital, informed that the forests of the Himalayan region could not be categorised according to the current classification identified by the us or Europe. "The reason behind this is that the Himalayan forests have trees that exhibit characteristics of both, deciduous and evergreen forests,' Singh said.