Two Day National Level Conference Protection Of Traditional Knowledge And Biodiversity: Problems And Prospects

Two Day National Level Conference Protection Of Traditional Knowledge And Biodiversity: Problems And Prospects by Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur In collaboration with The Chhattisgarh State Biodiversity Board

About HNLU

Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) was established under the Hidayatullah National University of Law, Chhattisgarh, Act, (No. 10 of 2003). It is recognized by the University Grants Commission u/s 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956, and also by the Bar Council of India u/s 7 (1) of the Advocates Act, 1961. HNLU is the first National Level Institute established in the new State of Chhattisgarh in the year 2003 and the sixth Law University in the country. HNLU has been ranked 5th in India Today Ranking 2021 and 51-100 on crisis management during COVID by the World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) Ranking 2021 and 201-300 among the innovative and emerging Universities by WURI and is set to scale new benchmarks in the years to come.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arup Kumar Goswami, Chief Justice of High Court of Chhattisgarh is the Chancellor of the University. Prof. (Dr.) V. C. Vivekanandan, former MHRD Chair Professor of IP Law at NALSAR University and also former Dean of the Rajiv Gandhi School of Law, IIT Kharagpur and School of Law, Bennett University is the Vice-Chancellor of the University. Prof. (Dr.) Uday Shankar is the Registrar of the University.

About Chhattisgarh State Biodiversity Board

Chhattisgarh State Biodiversity Board has been constituted by the State Government as per the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 notified by the Government of India. Chhattisgarh State Biological Diversity Rules, 2015 were notified by the State Government on 1st June 2015 under the provision of Section 63 (1) of Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Shri Rakesh Chaturvedi (I.F.S.), Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), C.G. Forest Department is the Chairman of the C.G. State Biodiversity Board and Shri Arun Kumar Pandey (I.F.S.), Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF) is the Member Secretary of the Board.

About The Conference

In the central part of India, the State of Chhattisgarh is richly blessed with forest and mines in around 135 sq. km of land. It has the 3rd largest forest area in India. Chhattisgarh is covered by deciduous and dry deciduous vegetation. Deciduous forests cover roughly 44% of the State. The forests and woodlands are home to many animals and species of birds like Gaur, Sambar, Blackbucks, Pahari Myna, etc. Teak, Sal, Salai, tendu, and Bamboo trees are mainly found in the State.

The State has many National Parks and Biosphere Reserves. Achanakmar- Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve has been recognized by UNESCO. Chhattisgarh is immensely rich in minerals. It is the highest producer of cement in India. It is a leading producer of coal, iron ore, tin ore, dolomite, bauxite, limestone, corundum, quartzite, garnet, alexandrite, diamonds, marble, etc.

In Chhattisgarh, about 80% of the population is rural and dependent on agriculture and agriculture-based small industries. Farmers still use traditional methods and rely more on Herbal farming. Medicinal rice and Chloroxylon produced in State are well known for their use. Though, the traditional knowledge of the people of the State needs recognition to a greater extent and adequate protection under the legal regime.

Traditional Knowledge is crucial to the conservation of biodiversity and its traditional uses. In pursuance of the Convention on Biological Diversity, In India Biological Diversity Act, 2002 has created a legal framework to protect the traditional knowledge and allows the community to derive benefit from sharing and commercialization of the same. It aimed to ensure that benefits arising out of the use of biological resources must be equitable.

Nevertheless, concerning India, it has been observed by UNDP that, “there is a need to strengthen institutional structures to implement the Biological Diversity Act as it will promote harmony, synergy, and linkages between conservation and management of biological diversity and associated traditional knowledge.”

The effective implementation of the Act will ensure the empowerment of people and the conservation of resources. Against this backdrop, to commemorate the World Nature Conservation Day from 27th-28th July 2022, Hidayatullah National Law University along with the Chhattisgarh State Biodiversity Board is organizing a National Level Conference on Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity: Problems and Prospects.

Structure Of The Conference

The Conference will be organized in the following three parts:

Part A: Panel Discussions
Part B: Paper Presentations
Part C: Field Visit (Tentative)

Participants

The conference aims to bring civil society, government agencies, academia, research scholars, and students to deliberate on the obstacles faced in preserving traditional knowledge. It will also include discussions on the potential of the Biodiversity Act to promote traditional knowledge and the prospect of the Act to economically empower the community.

Sub-Themes Of The Conference

Articles / Research papers are invited on any of the following sub-themes:

Legal protections for traditional knowledge and biodiversity
Role of Institutions/Civil Society in the protection of Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity
Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge
Traditional Knowledge and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity
Business and Biodiversity
Corporate responsibility and Biodiversity Conservation
Biodiversity and Corporate Social Responsibility
Community Rights and International Framework
Indigenous Knowledge and Environment Protection
Traditional Knowledge and World Trade

These sub-themes are only suggestive and not exhaustive. Papers that are not covered under the above-mentioned sub-themes yet hold relevance in the thrust area may also be considered.

Call For Papers

Research Papers/Articles in English are invited from Academicians, Professionals, Practitioners, Researchers, Students of law, social science and environmental science, and other stakeholders on the emerging issues and related areas on the broader sub-themes given above. The Selected papers based on quality may be published in the form of an edited book with ISBN.

Dates To Remember

Deadline for the Submission of Full Paper along with Abstract: July 22, 2022
Intimation of Acceptance for Paper Presentation: July 23, 2022
Deadline for Registration & Fee Payment (only if the paper is accepted): July 24, 2022
Date of Conference: July 27-28, 2022

Registration Fees

For Academicians/Professionals and Research Scholars: INR 1000
For Students: INR 700

Note:

Co-authorship of up to two authors is permitted with the submission of registration fees by both authors separately.
Organizers will provide the following meals during the conference: 27 July 2022 – Lunch, High Tea & Dinner, 28 July 2022 – Breakfast & Lunch
No T. A. / D.A. will be provided to the participants by the organizers of the conference.
The participants are requested to make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation. However, participants may contact the organizers for assistance regarding accommodation at the university before registering for the conference.

Bank Details

Account Holder’s Name: Registrar, Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur Bank Name: IDBI Bank
Account No.: 1188102000000806
IFSC Code: IBKL0001188
MICR Code: 492259503
Branch Name: HNLU Campus Branch, Uparwara, Naya Raipur
Account Type: Current A/C

Submission Guidelines

The abstract of 200 – 250 words accompanied by a brief profile of the author/s indicating his/her email ID, contact number, designation, and official address.
The word limit for a full paper along with an abstract is 2500 – 3000 words (excluding footnotes) submitted in MS Word Format.
It must be typed in Times New Roman Font Size 12 on A4 size paper with1” margin on all sides with 1.5 line spacing.
Plagiarized papers shall be summarily rejected.
For references and bibliography, the author(s) are required to follow the Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.
Papers will be scrutinized by the organizers, and up to 25 papers may be accepted for presentation at the conference.

The full paper along with the abstract must reach the conference secretariat on or before July 22, 2022, through the following link/QR code:

Link / QR for the submission of full paper along with abstract – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbGrrZxfYYfzTCw6Cv0CMJyoqMlPGfHUjm0aeSqDlP7wOVDQ/viewform?usp=sf_link