Memories from Bhutan... introduction and acknowledgment

Memories, experiences, thoughts, feelings, messages and summaries from the 2014 pre-congress Emerging Ethnobiologist Worskhop in Bhutan.

On this page we will share the memories and experiences of the participants and organizers of the 3^rd Emerging-Ethnobiologist Workshop, which has been held in the College of the Natural Resources, Lobesa, Bhutan from May 27 to 30, 2014.

It was organized by the 2 student representatives of the ISE 2012-2014, Olivia Slyvester

from USA-Canada and Anna Varga from Hungary, the local host and organizer was Jigme Dorji from the Royal Manas National Park.

We had 5 international mentors, 1 Bhutanese mentor and several invited speaker from Bhutan.

27 participants were from all over the World… they live and work in more than 20 countries (Australia, USA, Canada, Ireland, UK, Hungary, Tajikistan, Bhutan, New Zeeland, Japan, France, Nepal, Ethiopia, Caribbean, Taiwan, India, Mexico, Brazil, Zambia, Romania, Mongolia, Guyana…).

The goals of this workshop were to:

1) create a space where participants can enhance their understanding of the methods and ethical approaches used in respectful biocultural diversity research, and

2) establish a sense of global community both among the emerging ethnobiologists as well as between the emerging and mentors.

The four day workshop included three days of in-house lecture and one day field trip.

Titles of the lectures

·         Ethics and research partnerships by Kelly Bannister

·         Indigenous research methods and protocols by Verna Miller

·         Balancing practical and academic research outcomes  by Jon Corbett

·         Ethnobotany break by Gary Martin

·         Sharing our experiences as emerging professionals; student presentations and contribution by Om Katel

·         Supporting a new generation of ethnobiologists by Alain Cuerrier

·         Gross National Happiness Survey, by Center for Bhutan Studies and GNH, by Karma Wagdi and Pema Thinley

·         Field trip to the watershed of Wangdue, Lemuteykha villages, lead by Thinley Jamtsho, Principal Engineer from RNR Research Centre

·         and the wonderful Bhutanes dishes by our cook, Yonten

Lastly we would like to extend my deepest appreciation and acknowledgement to the following people and organizations:

• The Director and the staff of the College of the Natural Resources, Lobesa for hosting the workshop and giving us logistic support
•   The Organizer of the Congress – the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment (UWICE) for supporting the logistic arrangemen  The Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation for fundig the workshop
•   International Development and Research Centre of Canada (IDRC) grant to help fund our workshop
•   Campus Hungary TÁMOP 4.2.4 program for supporting Anna Varga’s cost.
•   The Planning committee of the students’s workshop for the guidance and advice
• All the mentors for their guidance throughout the workshop
• The Managing Director of the ISE – Mrs. Natasha for her exceptional interest and support to the workshop right from planning to end
• We would like to thank all the participants for their active participation and lively interaction. We had a wonderful time with you!!!
• Lastly, we would like to say a huge thank Jigme Dorji, who works in Royal Manas National Park, who is our host in Bhutan. We would like tostay a very special thank for him, because without his very kind help and participation in all work we could not make this workshop at all.
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Tashi delek!