IIT Kharagpur sets up plant biodiversity park

The Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur on Monday announced it has set up a plant biodiversity park to "conserve vulnerable, threatened and endangered local plant species" that are either of botanical value or medicinal and aromatic importance.

The park is home to more than 80 plant species such as Telegraph plant, Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow and All-Spice plant.

"This park will serve as a repository from which the community can source seeds and saplings for restoration and to sustain livelihoods. It will be an information resource both for students and teachers and the community at large and a model initiative to revive endangered, vulnerable and threatened floral species," an IIT-Kgp statement said.

Ideated by professor Adinpunya Mitra, the park also seeks to educate future generations about conservation.

"Under the Green Agenda of IIT Council, Ministry of Human Resource Development desires that special emphasis should be given on biodiversity. IITs have been built on erstwhile clear land that was the habitat for one species or another. Development need not be at the expenses of flora and fauna; a pressing need for protection of these flora and fauna in the campus in a scientific way must begin in its right earnestness," the statement added.

--IANS

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