Kathmandu, April 11

The Department of Plant Resources celebrated 18th Plant Resources Day today.

Speaking at a programme organised by the department, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Shankar Prasad Bhandari stressed on preserving forests and increasing timber production to fulfil the local demand.

Secretary at the ministry PrakashMathema said climate change posed a threat to plant life and urged all to make collective efforts to save forest resources. On the occasion, Director General AkhileshwarLalKarna said the department was for identifying new plant resources in the country and utilising them for economic development.

Amid the programme, Professor Pramod Kumar Jha was honoured with this year’s National Plant Resources Award, which carries a purse of Rs 100,000. The department said it had decided to award Jha for his valuable contribution to the conservation and utilisation of plant resources. A book named ‘Nepal’s Lauthsalla’ was also launched on the occasion of 57th anniversary of the department.

The department under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation was formerly known as the Department of Medicinal Plants, which was established in 1960. The department works in the field of research and development of plant resources in Nepal. It is a multidisciplinary organisation comprising botanists, chemists and pharmacists.