BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: PLEA FOR ECONOMICALLY USEFUL TREE AND SHRUB SPECIES

Abstract

I am thankful to the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding for inviting me to deliver today this Dr. B. P. Pal Memorial Lecture. In fact, I do not need an invitation to talk about Dr. Pal, nor do I need a particular occasion to do so. Ever since I first met him, a half century ago, in 1937, there has not been a day when I have not fondly remembered him, or narrated to my friends one or the other aspect of his numerous qualities of head and heart. For, Dr. Pal was not just a good scientist, or an especially able science administrator, he was indeed a many-splendered personality, each facet superbly fascinating and endearing.