Topics:1.To make progress on Mapping Asia Plants, list species database according to the existing plant checklists and relevant literature in different regions, evaluate and determine the blank area of plant classification and protection in Asia

2. To establish and strengthen the collaborative network of researchers in North East Asia and North Asia in the promotion of Mapping Asia Plants, and to strengthen cooperation on projects, platforms and experts with the other countries;

3. To establish an alliance membership mechanism, and promote data sharing among agencies and experts in various countries;

4. To understand how to acquire and manage the long-term monitoring data of forests.

Organizers: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

           School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University

Time: July 13-14, 2017

Venue: Room 517, West Wing of the Main Building, School of Forestry

Schedule

Background of Mapping Asia Plans

The Asian Biodiversity Conservation and Data Network (ABCDNet) is the first project led by China in the area of Asian regional biodiversity conservation and information development. Its goal is to build the platform of biodiversity protection and information sharing for the Asian countries and regional organizations. It has become an influential regional cooperative project for international biodiversity research and protection.

Background

The loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems are more and more serious in Asia, so it is urgent to formulate biodiversity conservation programs, implement conservation actions, and win support from relevant information infrastructures. However, the information on Asia biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use is very fragmented. There is no one Asian biodiversity information platform covering will scattered information and providing regional level information service for biodiversity conservation, especially the relevant Conventions implementing biodiversity protection.In this context, the Biodiversity Committee held the Asian Biodiversity Data Sharing Workshop in Zhaoqing, Guangdong in March 2013, which were attended by 17 representatives from China, India, South Korea, Indonesia, the ASEAN Centre of Biodiversity (ACB), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), and other countries and organizations. In the meeting, participants reached consensus on the proposal of integrating online resources of biodiversity, establishing a regional biodiversity information network, and providing data service. The decision to establish the Asian Biodiversity Conservation and Data Network (ABCDNet) was also made under discussion.

Organization

Keping Ma, a researcher at the Institute ofBotany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor K. N. Ganeshaiah from Bangalore Kasetsart University, India, co-chair the working group. Other members of the ABCDNet working group come from the National Committee for Chinese and the Biosphere, the Korea National University, the Biological Center of Scientific Research Institute of Indonesia, the ASEAN Center of Biodiversity, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and the IUCN Asia Office. At the second workshop held in April 2014, Professor Liliya Dimeyeva from Kazakhstan was added as a member of the working group, and the ABCDNet office was affiliated to the Biodiversity Committee of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Table 1. Members of the Asian Biodiversity Conservation and Data Network (ABCDNet)

Mapping Asia Plants

At the ABCDNet working group meeting in 2015, the Mapping Asia Plants (MAP) was proposed. Two pilot projects on the current Asia plant resources, such as species, related database, and web resources were also implemented to promote the progress of MAP, which were the 100 Most Endangered Plants in Asia, and Southeast Asia Plant Biodiversity Information Infrastructure (SEADiv) . Since 2017, MAP has been steadily promoted in South Asia, Northeast Asia, North Asia, Central Asia and West Asia.

 Table 2 Workshops on Mapping Asia Plants in Different Asian Areas