Chris Chadwell has taken the decision to launch the 'Journal of Himalayan Botany' summer 2018, to be published semi-annually digitally by the Himalayan Plant Association as a further means of communicating botanical research about Himalayan flora, in a different style to existing publications.
 Those which, in part at least, cover 'Himalayan' material such as: 'Newsletter of Himalayan Botany' , The Society of Himalayan Botany Tokyo - a means of communicating current events in Himalayan botany), Edinburgh Journal of Botany, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh (an international journal of plant systematics valued for research on South-East and South-West Asian, Sino-Himalayan and Brazilian botany); I don't know of any journals published in Himalayan countries which specifically cover 'Himalayan' botany - kindly let me know, if I have missed any? Institutions in India, in particular should already be regularly publishing such information. It is hoped that this publication, will prompt movement in this direction - though perhaps not. In the early years of the Himalayan Plant Association, when we only published a newsletter, I approached institutions in India & Nepal which undertook study of Himalayan flora, offering complimentary (i.e. free membership and receipt of journals) yet not one bothered to reply.... One individual botanist did join, along with a department at Kunming in China! It is well within the budget of institutions and individual botanists (especially in India) to join the Himalayan Plant Association, to receive three journals as year (as pdfs) for a modest £10 but nobody has inquired as yet - so I shall not be holding my breath for subscription inquiries from the Indian sub-continent! During my travels around the UK, US and Canada, I have found that the majority of botanists fortunate enough to hold a post as a botanist at institutions in these countries, also have botany (and at times, specialist gardening) as a hobby. The same does not apply in India, where such individuals are a rarity. I have bent over backwards attempt to engage with Indian botanists during my visits to the Himalaya over a period of nearly 40 years (involving no financial cost to them) but hardly any have shown any interest - what a pity. Still, this journal, along with the Himalayan Plant Association journals are a means of sharing some of the knowledge I have accumulated since 1980. IF the leading specialist in Himalayan flora travelled to the UK, I would jump at the chance of meeting them and escorting them on field-trips to show them British wild flowers. The equivalent has happened to me several times in the US (see: https://sites.google.com/a/shpa.org.uk/main/eastern-cascades and Canada but never in India or Nepal. The Himalayan Plant Association also publishes its own journal, which although enjoying substantial botanical content, is designed to be of general interest (which is Chris' style of lecturing as well), also covering aspects of cultivation, conservation and travel. See: https://sites.google.com/a/shpa.org.uk/main/latest-situation This new journal, because it will be published digitally, being available, upon subscription, as pdfs sent by e-mail, the content shall be liberally illustrated (Chris has a wide range of excellent images available, right from his own early expeditions in the 1980s) and more informal than most strictly botanical publications. Target publication date for first issue is June 2018 (then December 2018) and so on. Contact Chris Chadwell: chrischadwell261@btinternet.com to join. Annual subscription for individuals (to receive two journals/year) is £10, payment methods: by cheque payable to Chris Chadwell (those with UK bank accounts only), £10 cash (or 15 Euros as notes or 15 US dollars as bills) or through pay pal (if using this method, indicate which e-mail address to use and a payment request will be sent - the cost of pay pal charge will be added usually c. 5%). The cost of Institution subscription is to be decided. Who is this journal dedicated to? In chronological order of input: Professor Peter Edwards (then Dr Edwards, Tutor & Ecology Lecturer, University of Southampton - the best lecturer I have ever listened to) Dr Ralph Stewart (author of 'Flora of Ladakh'; 'An Annotated Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Pakistan & Kashmir' - Chris visited him in California, where he was presented with Stewart's last, personally annotated copy of his catalogue; extensive correspondence) Oleg Polunin (co-author of 'Flowers of the Himalaya' - Chris visited Oleg several times, lending him slides of Himalayan plants) Arthur Chater (co-author of 'An Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal' - taxonomist at main herbarium, Natural History Museum, Londion, who was friendly and welcoming, introducing him to others in the herbarium the days Chris visited who had an interest in Himalayan flora, establishing useful contacts) Ian Hedge (taxonomist at Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh - encouraged Chris' interest in Himalayan flora during correspondence & visits to Edinburgh) Professor Anton Reznicek (taxonomist University of Michigan Herbarium at Ann Arbor - introduced Chris to Walter Koelz, during a lecture tour in N.America, who made extensive collections with Thakur Rup Chand in the NW Himalaya in the 1930s, which were subsequently named by Dr Ralph Stewart) Professor Arve Elvebakk (lichen taxonomist at University of Tromso, Norway & curator Tromso Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden - special interest in the Primula macrophylla complex in the Himalaya, recognising Primula meeboldii; invited Chris to lecture to the Friends of the Botanical Garden) |
