Free entry for students to museum

To mark the International Day of Forests on March 21, the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) has announced free entry to Gass Forest Museum for school and college students from March 18 to 22.

The Gass Forest Museum is one of the largest and oldest of its kind in the country.

It has been engaging the public, mostly students, on crucial scientific insights and thoughts to steer them to help conserve forests and restore biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems.

Mohit Gera, Director IFGTB, said the museum was established in 1902 by Horace Archibald Gass, the then Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore South Division, on his office premises.

The museum was formally opened by Lord Ampthill, the then Governor of Madras Presidency.The present museum building was opened in 1915 by Lord Pentland, the then Governor of Madras. It houses more than 4000 exhibits under various categories.