A two-day Hands-on Training and Capacity Building Workshop on “Herbarium Technique and Collection & Identification of Higher Plants” was jointly organized by the Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building, and Livelihood Programme Resource Partner (EIACP) PC-RP on Biodiversity (Flora), Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Howrah, and the School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI), Narendrapur Campus, Kolkata, from 27 to 28 February 2026.
A total of 109 participants attended the programme. The workshop was conducted daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a lunch break from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
Day 1: 27 February 2026 (Friday)
Registration (09:30 AM – 10:30 AM)
The programme commenced with participant registration.
Inaugural Session (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM)
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Prof Nrisingha Dey, Dean, School of Agriculture and Rural Development, RKMVERI, who briefly introduced the objectives of the workshop. This was followed by an overview of the genesis of the workshop by the Organizing Coordinator, Dr Bhubaneswar Pradhan.
Dr Jeewan Singh Jalal, Scientist-E, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, and Coordinator of EIACP PC-RP on Biodiversity (Flora), introduced the EIACP programme, outlining its objectives, activities, and key achievements.
The session was formally conducted by Dr Sudipta Tripathi, RKMVERI, who also delivered the vote of thanks.
Technical Session I (11:30 AM – 1:30 PM)
Topic: Morphology of Angiosperms & Biodiversity (Floral Diversity) Conservation and Sustainable Utilization
Resource Person: Dr J. Jayanthi, Scientist-F, Botanical Survey of India
With over 20 years of experience in floristic and ethnobotanical studies, Dr. J. Jayanthi has conducted extensive research in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Western Ghats, and Eastern Ghats. She is currently leading the Great Nicobar Development Project. Dr. Jayanthi delivered an in-depth lecture on the morphology of angiosperms, covering root, stem, leaf, flower, and inflorescence structures, along with distinctions among herbs, shrubs, and trees. She emphasized the importance of plant taxonomy in identification and biodiversity documentation.
Her lecture also highlighted floral diversity conservation and sustainable utilization strategies. The session concluded with an interactive discussion and question-answer session.
Technical Session II (2:30 PM – 4:00 PM)
Topic: Grasses & Sedges
Resource Person: Dr K. Althaf Ahamed Kabeer, Scientist-E, Botanical Survey of India
The post-lunch session began with a lecture by Dr K. Althaf Ahamed Kabeer, an authority on the family Poaceae. He discussed the taxonomic identification of grasses and sedges, key morphological characteristics, and identification techniques in grassland ecosystems.
Dr Kabeer has conducted floristic studies in Mukurthy National Park, Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu), discovering eight new species and reporting several new distributional records.
Technical Session III (4:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Topic: Identification of Orchids
Resource Person: Dr Jeewan Singh Jalal, Scientist-E, Botanical Survey of India & Coordinator, EIACP PC-RP (Flora)
Dr Jalal delivered a detailed presentation on orchid taxonomy and identification. With over two decades of expertise in Orchidaceae, he has led several orchid conservation projects in the Western Himalayas supported by international organizations such as the San Diego County Orchid Society (USA) and the Rufford Small Grants Foundation (UK).
He elaborated on diagnostic features, common names, medicinal importance, ecological significance, and economic value of orchids, with special reference to the Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The session concluded with an engaging discussion. The first day of the workshop ended thereafter.
Day 2: 28 February 2026 (Saturday)
Field Visit & Hands-on Training (10:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
Venue: Integrated Rural Development and Management Faculty Centre, RKMVERI, Narendrapur Campus
Resource Persons: Dr Soumen Gantait & Dr Basant Kumar Singh, Botanical Survey of India
The second day began with a field visit within the RKMVERI campus. Participants received practical training in plant identification and scientific collection techniques required for herbarium preparation. The session was conducted under the guidance of Dr Soumen Gantait and Dr Basant Kumar Singh, ensuring active participation and hands-on learning.
Technical Session IV (11:30 AM – 1:30 PM)
Topic: Hands-on Training on Herbarium Methodology
Resource Person: Dr Basant Kumar Singh, Botanical Survey of India
Dr Basant Kumar Singh, M.Sc., Ph.D., FLS (London), Botanical Assistant at BSI Headquarters, Kolkata, conducted a detailed session on herbarium preparation techniques. His expertise includes floristic surveys, plant conservation, EIA studies, GIS mapping, and contributions to the Flora of India project (families Aponogetonaceae, Najadaceae, and Asparagaceae).
The session covered specimen collection, pressing, drying, mounting, labelling, and preservation methods. Participants actively engaged in demonstrations and discussions. Awareness on Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was also promoted, encouraging reduced plastic usage and environmental responsibility. A pledge was taken by all participants.
Valedictory Session & Certificate Distribution (2:30 PM – 4:30 PM)
The valedictory session was addressed by:
- Prof Nrisingha Dey, Dean, RKMVERI
- Dr Soumen Gantait, Botanical Survey of India
- Dr Basant Kumar Singh, Botanical Survey of India
- Dr Bhubaneswar Pradhan, Director, Quality Testing Laboratory, RKMVERI
The speakers emphasized the importance of taxonomic expertise, herbarium techniques, and biodiversity conservation. Certificates were distributed to all participants. The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks proposed by Dr Bhubaneswar Pradhan.
| Faculty/Staff Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Bhubaneswar Pradhan (Primary Coordinator) | ARD – Narendrapur Campus |
