14th ISE congress begins in Bumthang

The 14th congress of the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) has begun in Bumthang on Sunday (1 June). The congress is held every two years.

The congress aims to support and promote the critical efforts of indigenous peoples, traditional societies and local communities in the conservation of biological, cultural and linguistic diversity.

HRH Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck inaugurated the event attended by 200 participants from Bhutan and 400 participants representing 56 other countries.

HRH Wangchuck also launched four new publications Ugyen Wangchuk Institute for Conservation and Environment: Field Guide to Primulas of Bhutan, Field Guide to Hesperiidae (Skippers) of Bhutan, Aquatic Biodiversity Assessment and Ecological and Socio-Cultural Significance of High Altitude Wetlands.

‘Regenerating Biocultural Ecosystem Resilience’ and ‘Transmission of Traditional Knowledge’ are the two broad themes selected for this week-long congress.