Bioprospecting of Indigenous Bioresources of North-East India

This work is a comprehensive information on the indigenous bioresources of North Eastern India with the scope of bioprospecting for discovery and commercialization of new sources and products and long-term ecological balance. The exploration, conservation and sustainable utilization of bioresources of world{u2019}s Megabiodiversity Hotspots are undeniable. North Eastern India is a recognised biodiversity hot spot where the evolutionary forces are at its optimum, making this region as centre of origin for many species. Although little bit exploratory studies have been conducted in this part of the globe but a scientific exploitation of the bioresources is almost lacking. Unscientific exploitation and overexploitation without proper knowledge of the bioresources may lead to imbalanced ecosystem of this mega diversity region. At the same time, very less exploration and exploitation will hamper biodiversity based development. Today, unscientific dramatic changes are underway in this region. Human activities are changing, degrading and destroying the bioresources in an unplanned manner. Scientific bioprospecting of the bioresources will boost the economy while ensuring conservation. This book offers comprehensive information about various levels of bioprospecting of the gene pool of this Indo-Burma Mega Biodiversity Hot Spot, the North East India, which is endowed with huge biodiversity potential for exploration and exploitation for the benefit of humankind. Also, this book highlights the less and merely explored part of the indigenous biodiversity of North East India with explanation towards their better sustainable exploitation for benefit of the people, economy and environment. The novelty of the book lies in expert coverage of the bioresources of this mega-diverse region including plants, microbes, insects etc. with provisions for their sustainable scientific utilization. This book portrays North East India as a melting pot of bioresources which are little explored and also those resources which are still to be explored. The book mainly highlights the bioprospecting approaches for North East Indian bioresources, and thus, it make itself a unique one in filling the knowledge gap that is there regarding the bioprospecting of the biodiversity of this special region on the earth. The book concludes by the ecotourism potential of this region. The target audiences for this book include biodiversity economists who are working on technology and bioresource management issues, and especially on biotechnology and biodiversity, development economists addressing the issues of bioresources in developing countries. These people may be in academia, in government, in non-governmental organizations and in private companies. The other target audiences group is policy scholars in government/public sectors who are interested in issues of biotechnology, IPRs, and biodiversity. In addition, scholars/experts in both development studies and resource management studies form another group of target audiences. Also, the book will be useful for the interaction between developed and developing nations regarding the issues of biodiversity and bioprospecting, as North Eastern India is the hub of Biodiversity Front Matter....Pages i-xix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Emerging Trends in Sustainable Bioprospecting of Bioresources....Pages 3-19 Bio-Resources of Northeast India: Sustainable Utilization and Challenges....Pages 21-28 Front Matter....Pages 29-29 Endemic Orchids of Northeast India....Pages 31-44 Bioresources of Nagaland: A Case of Wild Edible Fruits in Khonoma Village Forest....Pages 45-60 Endangered Orchids and Their Conservation in North East India....Pages 61-75 Fibers and Dye Yielding Plants of North East India....Pages 77-99 Pesticidal Plants of Northeast India....Pages 101-125 Biomass Resources for Biofuel Production in Northeast India....Pages 127-151 Exploration and Utilisation of Camouflaging Plants for Defence Use with Emphasis to North East India....Pages 153-163 Plant Products and Fermented Foods as Nutrition and Medicine in Manipur State of Northeast India: Pharmacological Authenticity....Pages 165-179 Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Indigenous Plants from Northeast India Using Molecular Marker Technology....Pages 181-192 Front Matter....Pages 193-193 Algal Wealth of Northeast India....Pages 195-213 Front Matter....Pages 215-228 Drosophilid (Insecta, Diptera: Drosophilidae) Biodiversity of North-East India....Pages 229-229 Edible Insects of Northeast India....Pages 231-251 Endemic Thrips of Northeast India....Pages 253-267 Mosquito Biodiversity of Northeastern India....Pages 269-277 Front Matter....Pages 279-294 Non-timber Forest Product (NTFP) in Northeast India: An Overview of Availability, Utilization, and Conservation....Pages 295-308 Front Matter....Pages 309-309 Prospects of Ecotourism in Majuli....Pages 311-322 Front Matter....Pages 323-323 Destination Branding of Ziro Through Potentiality of Bio-tourism....Pages 325-328 Biotourism Potential in Northeast India....Pages 323-323 ....Pages 329-337