Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Nov 25: Rare tree Himalayan sweetspire identified in Botany as `Itea nutans’ spotted for the first time in Baba Dhansar sacred grove on way to Reasi by the team of State Forest Research Institute (SFRI), J&K.
Dripping wet rocks and cool shady location, is ideal habitat for Himalayan sweetspire tree, The tree is medium sized, leaves are broad ovate borne alternately on the twig with acute leaf tip, margin faintly toothed, flowers white borne in typical hanging racemes.
Community faith, reverence of sacred shrines like Baba Dhansar has preserved rare species of trees and bushes since old times. Baba Dhansar shrine’s sacred space i.e sanctum sanctorum has huge Liana of Maloongar Bauhinia vahlii with sacred threads of faith fastened by devotees. In addition, shrine has lesser known Oblong leaved maple Acer oblongum locally called Pangoi, a Forest official said.
Director SFRI, OP Sharma said that under week long Back to Village programme which started today, Govt has included constitution of Biodiversity Management Committee at each Panchayat level before panchayats undertake mandatory documentation of wild, cultivated, preserved, threatened terrestrial ,aquatic and forest biodiversity including rare trees like Himalayan sweetspire as example of community preservation. PBRs shall help communities in effecting better conservation, sustainable utilization of bio-resources and regulation of biodiversity access & benefit sharing as per Indian Biodiversity Act 2002.
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