These proceedings of the workshop held 15-17 May, 1996 in Pokhara, Nepal focus on the roles of three important non-timber forest products – bamboo, rattan and medicinal plant – in the development of mountain areas of the Hindu Kush-Himalaya and beyond.

Two INBAR Consultations, organized as part of the work of the Production Working Group (the first on identification of priority species and the second on constraints to production), had emphasized the need for genetic enhancement of both bamboo and rattan. As a result, an Expert Consultation was organized by INBAR and co-sponsored by FORTIP (FAO/UNDP […]

An exercise to select bamboo and rattan species for further research was completed in 1993. This collaboration resulted in the first joint publication, between INBAR and IBPGR issued in 1994. The INBAR Bamboo Rattan Working Group on Genetic Diversity and Conservation decided last year to bring out a second edition of Priority Species of Bamboo […]