Kozhikode: The Forest Department will set up a temporary interpretation centre at the Vanaparvam bio-diversity park, near Kakkavayal, ahead of its formal opening on January 15.
The temporary centre is being set up to provide comprehensive information to visitors on the rare species of plants and herbs under conservation.
The department plans to build a bamboo house in the project area and use it as the official interpretation centre till the opening of a permanent structure.
The services of trained Vana Samrakshana Samithi members and forest staff will be utilised for the functioning of the centre and conducting awareness sessions for the visitors.
Tenders
Efforts are on to float tenders on November 30 for the construction of the permanent interpretation centre. The department hopes that the proposed building will be ready within two years.
Divisional Forest Officer Joseph Thomas said the interpretation centre would play a vital role in enlightening visitors through seminars and presentations on the rich bio-diversity of the region. The services offered by the centre would be useful to students and researchers interested in conducting in-depth studies on rare plants, he said.
At present, nearly 2,300 species of plants, the majority of them belonging to the Rare, Endemic and Threatened (RET) category, are conserved at the park. ‘Somalata' ( Sarcostemma acidum), a medicinal plant that grows in the high altitudes of the Himalayas, is one such species.
Official figures show that nearly 150 species of herbal plants, 23 species of bamboo saplings and 20 species of orchids grow under the ‘Vanaparvam' initiative. The interpretation centre will enable the visitors to learn about the importance of these plants and their medicinal value through focussed sessions and reference material.
Along with the conservation initiatives, the department also plans to bring out a comprehensive register listing the biological treasures at the park.
Mr. Thomas said the register, prepared with the assistance of the Zoological Survey of India and researchers from the Malabar Botanical Garden, the Swaminathan Foundation and the Malabar Natural History Society, would be ready in two months.
Funds
For developing the 111.4-hectare park into a tourist destination, the Ministry of Forest has sanctioned Rs.96 lakh, of which Rs.40 lakh will be spent for completing the first phase.
A butterfly park will be the main attraction of the project on completion.
Source: The Hindu, 23-11-2010
No comments:
Post a Comment