5 botanical gardens to boost green cover, save rare species in Karnataka
BENGALURU: Lalbagh has prepared a comprehensive master plan to develop five Botanical Gardens at different locations of the state, including the one at the periphery of the city. The aim is to increase the green cover and to conserve rare and endangered plant species.
M. Jagadish, Joint Director, Horticulture and Parks, Lalbagh, told this newspaper that a master plan is essential for developing Botanical Gardens as it takes at least eight years to give it a final shape.
The proposed five area for Botanical Gardens are: Doddasagare near Koratagere in Tumakuru, Kannamangala near Whitefield, Sir. M. Vishveswarayya botanical garden near Chikkaballapura lake, Limbabudi in Mysuru and Sirsi. As of now the cost of the project cannot be estimated, as it is spread over eight years.
The idea of botanical garden and the master plan for the same had been lying in the cold storage for the past seven years. However, an expert committee comprising eminent environmentalist A.N. Yellappa Reddy, Dr Sangappa, professors from IISc, Agriculture University and water expert Ravi Shankar have prepared the master plan. The committee already conducted a tops map survey to identify on the plants that needs to be planted, Jagadish said.
A botanical garden is a place where plants, especially ferns, conifers and flowering plants are grown and displayed for the purpose of research and education, he said.
This distinguishes them from parks and pleasure gardens, where plants, usually with beautiful flowers, are grown for public amenity Botanical gardens that specialize in trees are sometimes referred to as arboreta, he added.
Multiple species of trees are getting extinct. The Lalbagh is emphasising on gene pool by getting an array of trees, shrubs from different parts of the world. These different species will be made to get acclimatised to the local environment with constant care. Rare species of trees, especially from the Western Ghats, will be procured, conserved and will be given to others to ensure these species live long.
At least 400 to 500 rare species of trees will be conserved at these five botanical gardens, Jagadish added. A few noted botanists have identified endangered or red species of trees to be conserved and exclusively six acres of land have been identified for the same near Tumakuru. The fencing work has begun at a cost of Rs 4 crore, he revealed.
