Kohima, May 26 (MExN): A plantation programme of rare, endangered and threatened (RET) plants was jointly organized by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Shillong, Department of Tourism, Government of Nagaland and Modern College, Kohima on May 24 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
The programme started with Dr. Ashiho Mao, Scientist F and Head of Office, BSI, North East Regional Centre, Shillong giving an introduction on how and why to plant the RET plants.
Around hundreds of saplings of two critically endangered species of Rhododendron trees - Rhododendron wattii and Rhododendron macabaenum - which are common in Nagaland and Manipur states, were planted at the Naga Heritage Village. The other species of RET plants include Taxusbaccata, Gymnocladus assamicus, Agathis lanceolata and Asculus assamica.
Dr. Ashiho said the main aim and purpose was to raise and propagate the rare, endangered and threatened plants at the Naga Heritage site and also to beautify the place as rhododendron plants are known for its beauty, a press release received here said. The two critically endangered plants of rhododendrons are raised through tissue culture at BSI, Shillong.
Further, Dr. Ashiho encouraged the students to take keen interest in science and said numerous opportunities and scopes are available in Nagaland as “we are living in one of the richest biodiversity regions of the world.”
The students of Modern College, Kohima were led by Dr. Kazhuhrü Eshuo, Department of Environmental Science and Vekusa Ruho.
