KLE Academy of Higher Education, Deemed to be a University, in association with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Society of Ethnophamracology, Kolkata has jointly organized a three day 6th National Level Filed Workshop on Medicinal Plants in Western Ghats at 'Kulgi Nature Camp' Kali Tiger Reserve, Dandeli, from January 31 to Feb 3.

The first of its kind Workshop is being conducted away from the research labs amidst Western Ghat’s natural habitats. The theme of the workshop is "Globalising Traditional Medicinal Knowledge". The rich flora of the Western Ghat’s are not yet fully explored and has tremendous scope for development of herbal medicines. The workshop will focus on survey, identification of medicinal plants, classification, plant specimen collection, locally processing and preservation through natural by-products.

The Workshop also focuses on interaction with local traditional healers, observation of medicine preparation from them acquiring knowledge from their experience and expertise are part of the agenda. Conservation of endangered medicinal plants and making effort to grow them in the geographical area will be taken up. The Scientists will attempt to integrate ancient medicine with modern medicine for the common benefit to the community.

Interactions, group discussions, filed visits surveys, hands on skill based training on the medicinal plants in forests of western Ghats will be taken up in the three days workshop. Dr. Sanjay Mahnendale, Director General, ICMR, New Delhi, Dr. A K Tripathi, Director Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, Lucknow (up), Dr. C K Kokate Former Vice Chancellor of KLE University, Dr. Vivek Saoji, Vice Chancellor KLE University, Dr. S L Hoti, Director National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi are invited as resource persons. More than 50 Scientists, Researchers representing 10 states will attend the Workshop. KLE Academy officials said.