The 2nd Indian Ecological Society International Conference (IESIC) 2016 on “Natural Resource Management: Ecological Perspectives” was held at Sher-e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, India, from February 18-20, 2016. The conference provided a forum for the review of new information on natural resource management in the areas of land and water resources, crop-environment interactions, forestry and tree plantations, horticultural crops, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, eco-responsive livestock and fisheries production, and policies for the sustainable development of agriculture.

The topics of the conference were:

Land and Water Resources: 

·      Crop Environment Interactions: 

·      Integrated Nutrient Management

·      Integrated Pest Management:

·      Horticulture Crops:

·      Forestry Tree Plantations

·      Eco-responsive Livestock and Fisheries Production

·      Policies for Sustainable Development of Agriculture

·      Farmer-Industry-Scientists Interface

The conference reviewed and discussed issues related to strategies for natural resource management in detail. The invited lectures, topical discussions, oral and poster presentations at the international conference and invited and contributed manuscripts that appear in two volumes of extended summaries (Natural Resource Management: Ecological Perspectives, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2). The 206 articles were published in a special issue of the Indian Ecological Society.

The number of delegates attending the conference was 637 from eight countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Germany, Kenya, USA, Nigeria, Nepal and India), including the invited keynote speakers.

Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Development of Northeastern Region (Independent charge) and Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office, Public Grievances & Pensions Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Government of India, was the Chief Guest at the Inaugural Session of the Conference. Guests of Honour at the inaugural session were  Dr Pradeep K. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu; Dr Nazeer Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir; and Dr K.K. Katoch, Vice Chancellor, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. 

Panel Discussion (Public-Private Partnership) Coordinators: 

Dr Kamal Vatta, Mr Murli Dhar, Director, CIPT, India; Director, WWF India. Session in Charge/Rapporteur: Dr Manish Sharma. 1. Dr Birgit Wilhelm: Consultant for sustainable agriculture and resource management at the agriculture department of WWF, Germany. 2. Mr V. Vijay Vardhan: Operations Manager, Social Investments Programme, ITC Limited. 3. Mr Prem Prakash Saboo: Chief Finance Officer - RML Information Services P Ltd. 4. Mr Jagmeet Bal: Manager Government Relations, BASF India 5. Dr Anil Kakkar: Vice President at Excel Crop Care Ltd

Fellows 

Dr Kamal Vatta, Director, Centres for International Projects Trust (Columbia Water Centre), India; Dr Santanu Kumar Bal, Principal Scientist, School of Atmospheric Stress Management, NIASM. Dr Meera D. Ansal, Senior Scientist, College of Fisheries, GADVASU. Dr Sanjeev Kumar Chauhan, Professor, Agro-forestry, Punjab Agricultural University; Dr S.S. Walia, Senior Agronomist, Punjab Agricultural University; Dr Rajinder Peshin, Professor, Agricultural Extension Education, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu

Organising Secretary

Prof Rajinder Peshin