Scientists, forestry experts, Forest Department officials and students participate in awareness programme at Verinag Field Station
KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Oct 6: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Branch Laboratory Srinagar, organised a one-day outreach programme on conservation of critically endangered flora of the Kashmir Himalayas at its Field Station in Verinag today.
Titled “Preserving the Paradise: Conserving Critically Endangered Flora of the Kashmir Himalayas,” the programme was organised under the CSIR Mission Mode Project Bioresource Conservation and Prospection (BioCaP) to raise awareness about the conservation of endangered plant species and the importance of protecting the region’s plant diversity.
The programme brought together scientists, forestry experts, Forest Department officials and students to promote greater understanding of native plant species and their ecological and medicinal importance.
Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu and CSIR-NBRI, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, attended the programme as the chief guest. Addressing the participants, he stressed the importance of creating awareness among the younger generation about the responsibility of conserving natural resources.
Dr Ahmed also highlighted the wider relevance of India’s traditional knowledge, particularly in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants, and emphasised the need to connect this knowledge with contemporary scientific research. He said conservation efforts should extend beyond protecting plant species to preserving the knowledge systems and potential applications associated with these bioresources.
A key component of the programme was an interaction with Forest Department officials under the “Know Your Forests” initiative. The session provided participants an opportunity to understand the importance of forests, threats to native vegetation and the role of local stakeholders in conservation.
The “Tree Talk” activity introduced participants to native plant species and encouraged students to observe and understand the floral diversity around them.
The programme also featured a Conservation Innovation Challenge, encouraging young participants to think of practical and innovative solutions for protecting plant biodiversity.
Under the “Healing with Nature” segment, medicinal plants and their healthcare applications were showcased, highlighting the relationship between the region’s plant resources, traditional knowledge and modern scientific research.
