IMPHAL, Aug 1: The Manipur State Biodiversity Board sponsored Village Botanists’ Course for members of BMC(Biological Management Committee)s, folk healers and other stakeholders in Manipur was formally inaugurated at Forest department’s FDA hall at Mantripukhuri this morning.
The one year village botanist course was planned and designed by Bangalore based Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT).
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Anil Kumar who is also the chief wild life warden attended the inaugural function of one year course of village botanists while Member secretary of state biodiversity board RK Srivastava presided over the gathering. Additional PCCF N Kipgen also attended as guest of honour.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Wild Life Warden Anilkumar expressed the need to announce northeastern state as a world heritage site in the line of announcing western ghat as heritage site.
He also expressed serious concern over the depleting biodiversity scenario in the region due to various factors.
FRLHT’s trainer Dr Abdul Kareen said they have so far organized such kind of course at 11 places across the country and provided training to about 350 village botanists. The course to be conducted in Manipur happens to be second of its kind after Arunachal Pradesh in the entire north eastern states. One can serve in various research oriented programmes as a village botanist after completion of the course.