6th International Flora Malesiana Symposium 2004

[Edwino Fernando]

SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCEMENT

Advanced Information & Invitation to contribute


Sixth International FLORA MALESIANA Symposium

20-24 September 2004

Los Baños, Philippines

The International Flora Malesiana Symposia take place every three years, 
beginning in Leiden, the Netherlands in 1989, and alternating in a country 
in Malesia and a collaborating country outside the region.  The sixth of 
these international symposia will be hosted by the University of the 
Philippines - Los Baños and the National Museum of the Philippines.  The 
main scientific sessions and workshops will be held in the campus of the 
University of the Philippines - Los Baños (UPLB), about 65 km south of 
Manila.  The university lies between the southern lakeshore of Laguna de 
Bay and the northeastern slopes of the legendary volcanic Mt Makiling.

The five-day FM symposia series provide a forum for Flora Malesiana members 
to report scientific research findings and progress on particular plant 
groups or flora of areas, exchange ideas, and conduct workshops on 
approaches to enhancing and managing the Flora Malesiana Project.  The 
symposia also serve as catalyst for significantly increasing publication of 
plant biodiversity information and for multiplying expertise on the 
taxonomy and biology of the plants of the Malesian region.


CALL FOR CONTRIBUTED PAPERS / POSTERS.

Anyone offering to present a paper or poster is invited to submit a title 
and an outline for consideration.  The Scientific Programme Committee will 
select and advise authors as to designation of their presentation either as 
paper or poster.

SYMPOSIUM SESSIONS.  The main symposium sessions shall be in the form of 
mini-symposia.  These are being organised on the following 
topics:  Non-Vascular Cryptogams; Pteridophytes; Tribute to Dr Elmer D. 
Merrill and plant collectors; Merrill’s contribution to the Flora of the 
Philippines and Malesia;  Ethnobotany; Conservation Biology and Endangered 
Plants; Phylogeny and Biogeography; Floristics and Ecology; Bioinformatics; 
Herbarium Development and Collections Management; Medicinal Plants and 
Natural Products; Orchids and Ornamentals; and Progress in Flora Malesiana.

SYMPOSIUM WORKSHOPS.  Specialist workshops will take place on a number of 
plant families and plant groups and topics.  These will provide 
opportunities for discussion of large complex families yet to be treated 
for Flora Malesiana.  Proposals for workshop taxa are encouraged and should 
be forwarded to the addresses given below, preferably with name(s) of 
convenors and e-mail contacts.

PRE-, MID-, & POST-SYMPOSIUM FIELD TRIPS.  There will be a pre-symposium 
field trip on Palawan Island on 14-19 September 2004, through lowland 
forests in Irawan near Puerto Princesa, vegetation on ultramafic rocks on 
Mt Beaufort, and on limestone in the St Paul’s Bay National Park facing the 
South China Sea.  This field trip will return to Manila on the morning of 
19 September in time for delegates to reach Los Baños on the same day.  The 
mid-symposium field trip on Wednesday, 22 September 2004, will be a climb 
to the summit of Mt Makiling (c. 1100 m alt.).  The post-symposium field 
trip will be to the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountains near the 
Pacific coastal town of Palanan in Isabela Province, Luzon Island.  This 
field trip will be conducted from 25 September until 02 October 2004.

ACCOMMODATION.  The Symposium Organising Committee will be block-booking 
accommodation at special rates at hotels nearest the university.  The 
university and other institutions within the campus also operate small 
hostels that are within walking distance to the main Symposium 
venue.  Transport will be provided between hotels / hostels and the 
Symposium venues at the beginning and end of each working day and at other 
times as appropriate.  Hotel addresses and the schedule of fees for all 
accommodation will be provided in the 2nd Circular.

Further details regarding the program, speakers and associated fees, and 
others may be found in 2nd Symposium Circular and will also be available 
soon at: http:// www.mountainet.ph

For more information, please contact:   flmales6 at laguna.net

Dr Edwino S. Fernando

Co-Chair, Organizing Committee FM6
Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems
The University of the Philippines - Los Baños

College, 4031 Laguna
The Philippines
ph/fax + 63 49 536 3572
e-mail:  e.fernando at mountainet.ph
            esf at laguna.net

Dr Domingo A. Madulid

Co-Chair, Organizing Committee FM6
Division of Botany
National Museum of the Philippines

P. Burgos St.
P.O. Box 1126, 1051 Manila
The Philippines
ph +63 2 527 1218
e-mail:  dmadulid at info.com.ph