The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) proposes to develop a “bio-cultural park” on 10 acres here. It will be the first of its kind in the country.
Addressing a function marking the inauguration of a new gallery on north-east biodiversity at the Regional Museum of Natural History here, Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said flowers associated with all religions and traditions of the country would find a place in the park.
Mr. Ramesh said: “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has responded positively to make land available for the purpose. Within the next two-and-half years, you will have India's first bio-cultural park. Cultural traditions are not Hindu tradition only. Cultural traditions such as tribal, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Islamic, and Christian would be followed while choosing species. The bio-cultural park will not just be a monument of flowers, but also will be reflective of our divergent cultural traditions.”
Thje MoEF would develop the park and then hand over it over to the State government. The idea was to draw strength from Indian culture for the cause of conservation of bio-resources. Traditionally, biological sources were being conserved in the form of sacred grooves, ‘nakshatravanams,' ‘navagraha vatika,' concept of panchvati and use of timber from ecologically important species for religious purposes.
Chief Conservator of Forests (Central) at the eastern regional office of the MoEF J. K. Tiwary said the park would be developed on the lines of ‘nakshatravanam,' which was developed with the help of Indian Institute of Science at Ranchi. The Centre generates financial resources for its maintenance, sensitising people on conserving germplasm of different species of plants.
