Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 5: Department of Ecology, Environment & Remote sensing J&K, in collaboration with Deptt of Botany, University of Jammu, today organized an innovative Forest Flower Festival, wherein more than 10 colleges, schools, organizations and departments displayed unique floral diversity, floral products, value added edible cuisines, floral posters, floral garlands of wild blooms, floral poetic compositions, biotechnological and biochemical talks amidst cultural musical performances in praise of forest splendour including eco-skit on significance of forest habitat conservation and ecological preservation.
Vice chancellor, JU, Prof R D Sharma, while applauding the concept of forest flower festival, highlighted the need of awareness at different ecological zones and allied departmental campuses so that farmers and flower growers take to native flower cultivation and revive old edible cum medicinal value addition to add value to bio resources.
Principal Secretary, Forest, Ecology, Environment R K Gupta, highlighted the need of horizontal and vertical synergy to add value to forest resources and hoped that Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine & Forest Deptt will come together in disseminating innovative technologies to cultivate native plants and add new values to neutraceuticals & pharmaceuticals.
Director Ecology, Environ-ment & Remote sensing O P Sharma, hoped that sister departments of Forest , Horticulture, Floriculture and Agriculture will start cultivation of native forest blooms, forest aromatic trees, medicinal herbs and wild ornamental blooms for better ex-Situ conservation in parks & gardens and add new value added products to boost State economy and sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
Former PCCF, S D Swatantra, Director Soil &Water conservation Ravi Kesar, Director SFRI Suresh Gupta, Prof Yash Pal, HoD Botany, K K Sharma, Director Floriculture, Prof Harvinder Kiran, CCF Jammu and others shared their vision on future potential of wild bloom conservation, cultivation & value addition.
Govt College Boys Udhampur, bagged best stall prize, followed by Urban Forestry, which secured 2nd prize while third prize was bagged by Deptt of Floriculture. Degree College Hiranagar students bagged best garland making prize whereas Govt Higher sec school Smailpur got best prize in floral arrangement.
On the occasion, JK Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, presented folk dances conveying the message of benign nature and folk aspects forging harmony with nature by way of nature worship.
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