Globally, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) constitute one of the integral parts of the biodiversity, ecosystem and biological heritage. Medicinal and aromatic plants are being used since ancient time for the treatment of many diseases in traditional and recognized systems of healthcare and for therapeutic, fragrance and flavoring products in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries besides as sources of natural dye, fat and oil, essential oil, biopesticide, carbohydrate, resin, protein, vitamin, condiment, spice, timber, fiber and other useful substances. Plants are also considered to be the prime source of drug and aroma molecules and their precursors in modern medicine.  

India is one of the twelve mega-diversity countries in the world and extremely rich in biological diversity with high level of endemism. Out of 34 biodiversity hotspots- earth's biologically richest place. India houses the major parts of three important biodiversity hotspots namely the Himalayas, Western Ghat and Indo-Burma with about 45000-50000 plant species and 4,900 endemic species of flowering plants. Thus we have tremendous opportunities to convert them into the useful bioresources by adopting sustainable collection, characterization, documentation, conservation and utilization for the food, environmental and health securities through strategic participatory research, developmental and promotional approaches to deliver the end products to the society for their utilization.

Loss of biodiversity is a global phenomenon. More than one decade after the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the recognition of biodiversity loss has gained lot of attention at global, national and regional levels. The United Nations proclaimed 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity and people all over the world are working to safeguard this irreplaceable natural wealth and reduce biodiversity loss. Realizing this target in the biodiversity of medicinal and aromatic plants, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Association of India in collaboration with Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (ICAR), Anand, Gujarat is organizing a National Conference by providing opportunities to the researchers to share, lead and contribute in research, development and promotions of MAPs for the benefit of India and celebrate 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.

	Chief Patron: Dr. S. Ayyappan Director General (ICAR) &  Secretary (DARE) Krishi Bhavan New Delhi 110 114.
	Patron:            Dr. H. P. Singh DDG (Horticulture) Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan New Delhi 110 012
	Organizing Chairman: Dr. Satyabrata Maiti Director,  DMAPR, Boriavi Anand Gujarat 387 310.

The Organizers
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) established Directorate of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR) (formerly it was National Research Centre for Medicinal & Aromatic Plants) on November 24, 1992 at Boriavi in Anand district of Gujarat.	The Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Association of India (MAPAI) is registered under the Societies Registration Act 21 of 1860 with its registered office at  DMAPR, Boriavi, Anand, Gujarat. . .