Minister for Environment and Ecology J. Krishna Palemar said here on Saturday that the Karnataka Biodiversity Board headed by him had decided to provide an incentive ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 to those who protected rare and endangered trees.
Addressing a gathering at Dr. Shivarama Karanth Biological Park at Pilikula during the Wildlife Week celebrations, the Minister said that the decision was taken at a meeting of the board recently. He said that many tree species were on the verge of extinction. The move of the board was to involve people in conserving biodiversity.
He said that the government had approved Rs. 43 lakh for extension activities at the park.
Director of the park H. J. Jayaprakash Bhandary said that the park had got three pairs of exotic birds of Chinese origin. They are Lady Amherst's pheasant, yellow golden pheasant and ring necked pheasant. Enclosures of these birds were inaugurated on Saturday.
Mr. Bhandary said that the park would get three more pairs of exotic birds shortly.
He said that the government fund approved for extension activities would be used for building enclosures for water birds, snakes and other development projects.
An exhibition of wildlife photographs was organised on the occasion.
A rest house built by Karnataka Bank was inaugurated. Ananth Hegde Ashisara, Chairman, Western Ghats Task Force, Deputy Commissioner N. S. Channappa Gowda were present.
