SRINAGAR: Amid growing ecological pressures on the Kashmir Himalayas, the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Branch Laboratory Srinagar, organised a one-day outreach programme at its Field Station in Verinag on Tuesday to raise awareness about the conservation of critically endangered flora and the region’s rich plant diversity.
Titled “Preserving the Paradise: Conserving Critically Endangered Flora of the Kashmir Himalayas,” the programme was organised under the CSIR Mission Mode Project on Bioresource Conservation and Prospection (BioCaP). Scientists, forestry experts, Forest Department officials and students participated in the initiative to deepen understanding of native plant species and their ecological and medicinal significance.
Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu and CSIR-NBRI, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, attended the programme as chief guest and stressed the need to create greater awareness among younger generations about the responsibility of conserving natural resources.
He also highlighted the importance of India’s traditional knowledge, particularly concerning medicinal and aromatic plants, and called for stronger links between traditional knowledge and contemporary scientific research. He emphasised that conservation should protect not only plant species but also the knowledge systems and potential applications associated with these bioresources.
The programme featured a “Know Your Forests” interaction with Forest Department officials, providing participants insights into the importance of forests, threats to native vegetation and the role of local communities in conservation.
Through the “Tree Talk” activity, students were introduced to native plant species and encouraged to observe the floral diversity around them. A Conservation Innovation Challenge further invited young participants to develop practical and innovative ideas for protecting plant biodiversity.
Another segment, “Healing with Nature,” showcased medicinal plants and their healthcare applications, highlighting the close connection between the region’s plant resources, traditional knowledge and modern scientific research.
Students from different colleges also participated in the outreach activities, interacting with scientists, forestry experts and field officials and gaining firsthand understanding of the conservation challenges facing the Kashmir Himalayas.
