Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 3
The botanical garden of the Department of Botany, University of Jammu, is abuzz with academic activities these days.
This follows the initiative taken by the department to promote education and awareness about plant conservation and environment among all sections, especially schoolchildren, college and university students, faculty members, taxonomists, herbalists, environmental clubs and members of civil society.
In this series, BSc (Fifth semester) students of Government Degree College, Mendhar, accompanied by Mahroof Khan and Prof Sarshad visited the botanical garden as a part of their educational tour.
“The garden has plants of diverse regions at one place. Environmental systems, processes for biodiversity conservation and sustainable living can be learnt here,” said Rizwana Nazir, a student from Degree College, Mendhar.
Sonia and Suman said, “We are excited to see so many plants arranged as per the set system of classification in this garden.”
On the occasion, OP Sharma Vidyarthi, a renowned environmentalist, interacted with the college students and highlighted the relevance of plants in daily life. He discussed the conservation status of the rare, endangered and threatened plants of the state.
Earlier, Prof Yash Pal Sharma, Head, Department of Botany, University of Jammu, while interacting with the visiting students and teachers, explained that the garden had plant species from several corners of the state and the country.
“This is not merely a garden but a botanical institution. Our endeavour is to provide valuable information on various local, exotic, rare and endangered plants,” he said.