September, | : A one-day outreach program on “Conserve Medicinal Plants: Safeguard Nature, Safeguard Life” under the CSIR Mission Mode Project, Bioresource Conservation & Prospection (BioCap), was conducted at CSIR-IIIM Experimental Farm Yarikah,(Tangmarg), Kashmir, which was attended by 70 participants from tribal and farming communities.
The event was graced by Feroz Ahmad, Divisional Forest Officer, Special Forest Range, Gulmarg.
The outreach programme was organized under the mentorship and guidance of Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu and Er. Abdul Rahim, Chief Scientist and Head, Branch Laboratory, Srinagar.
The main objective of the programme was to make the participants aware about the importance of conserving medicinal plants for human well-being and healthy ecosystem.
Speaking on the occasion, Feroz Ahmed, appreciated the efforts of the CSIR-IIIM towards the conservation of natural treasure trove of medicinal plants. He also emphasized the importance of different departments and indigenous communities, joining hands for the success of this Mission. He also expressed his willingness to enter into an MOU with the Institution for Bioresource conservation.
Dr. Nasheeman Ashraf, Nodal Scientist of the mission project on “Bioresource conservation and prospection”, talked about the objectives of the project and the importance of the community role for its successful implementation. She highlighted the role of this multi-institute project in conserving the rare, endangered and threatened plant species of the North-Western Himalayas.
She also lauded the efforts of the Director, CSIR-IIIM in facilitating the Scientist-Farmer connect for the development of sustainable agro-technologies and science–driven agricultural practices.
Earlier, Dr. Riyaz-ul-Hassan, Senior Principal Scientist, welcomed the participants and dignitaries, highlighted the role of inter-organismal interaction in maintaining the forest ecosyste
Among others, Dr. QaziParvaiz Senior Principal Scientist, Dr. Khalid Yousuf, Senior Scientist, Dr. Phalisteen Sultan, Principal Technical Officer, Iftikhar Ahmad Qadri, Range officer, Tangmarg and Gh. Mohiud din Malik, SDAO Tangmarg and officers from forest and agriculture departments were also present on the occasion.
