Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Urges all to Create Harmony with Nature
Kolkata, February 16, 2023
Botanical Survey of India (BSI) celebrated its 134th Foundation Day during February 13-14, 2023 at ‘Bhasha Bhawan’, National Library Campus, Kolkata. To commemorate this important day, a two-day International Symposium on Plant Taxonomy, Ethnobotany and Botanic Gardens was organised. The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupinder Yadav graced the occasion on February 14, 2023 and interacted with the scientists, professors, students and participants.
During the Inaugural session on February 13, 2023, two publications from BSI [The genus Calanthe R.Br. (Orchidaceae) in India; The Flora of Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, India] were released by the dignitaries on the dais.
On February 14, 2023, the Union Minister also released three books published by BSI [Mangroves of India – A Pictorial Field Guide; Flora of India, Volume 24; Rhododendrons of Sikkim and Darjeeling Himalaya] and two books published by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) [Morpho Taxonomic Studies of Syrphid Pollinators (Insecta: Diptera) from Lesser Himalayas; Malacofauna of Pennera River Estuary, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh]. The Union Minister released the books in presence of Ms Namita Prasad, the Joint Secretary, MoEF & CC; Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director, ZSI; and Dr. A. A. Mao, Director, BSI.
While congratulating the BSI on its foundation day, Shri Yadav appreciated the research activities and publications of BSI and commended the efforts of BSI for documentation and conservation of the country's rich floristic wealth. In his address, the Union Minister highlighted the success stories of BSI during the past 133 years of journey and emphasised the importance of plant taxonomy in fixing the identity of plants and how taxonomy as a specialised branch of science can contribute in developing identification standards which in turn would be useful in conservation, bio-prospection and sustainable utilisation of our floristic resource.
The Minister urged everyone to follow and imbibe the message of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ by healing the earth, creating harmony with nature and developing hope for the future. He also highlighted the efforts of the Centre in bringing back Cheetahs to India and in increasing the Leopard population in the country. The importance of recording the traditional knowledge associated with plants was mentioned in his address and so also the role of botanical gardens in ex-situ conservation and outreach activities. He urged everyone to focus on collaborative studies and follow the wisdom of convergence between institutes of similar mandates and activities.
While appreciating the achievements of BSI on the field of documenting floristic diversity of the country, the Minister encouraged the scientific fraternity to make India as ‘Viswaguru’ and achieve the ‘PanchPran’ concept of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the next 25 years which has been termed as ‘Amrit Kaal’ to celebrate the centenary of India’s independence.
The Organising Secretary Dr. S. S. Dash informed that more than 400 delegates from India and different countries had participated in the symposium and deliberated on their respective fields of research. They also shared the research results in this common platform so that everyone would be updated in the field of plant science research. During the symposium, BSI used electric vehicles to contain carbon emissions and promote the use of electric vehicles under the NITI AYOG e-Amrit initiative and Mission LIFE.
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