
21 August 2021.
Introduction:
India’s highest herbal park, at a height of 11,000 feet, was inaugurated near Indo-China border at Mana village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
Aim of the high-altitude herbal park
- This high-altitude herbal park was inaugurated with the aim of conserving various medicinally and culturally important alpine species and to conduct research on propagation and habitat ecology of these species.
- The Park has been developed on the area of three acres in Mana Village.
- The land was given by Mana Van Panchayat.
- It was developed by the Research Wing of Uttarakhand Forest Department.
- This Park was developed in three years under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme of the central government.
About the Herbal Park
- Herbal Park comprises of 40 species which are found in high altitude alpine areas in Indian Himalayan region.
- Many of these species are categorized as endangered and threatened in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list as well as by the State Biodiversity Board.
- Park comprises of several important medicinal herbs also.
- Park was inaugurated by the Sarpanch of Mana Van Panchayat.
Four sections of park
Park has been divided into four sections:
- First section– It comprises of species associated with Badrinath (lord Vishnu) including Badri Tulsi, Badri Tree, Badri Ber, and sacred tree of Bhojpatra.
- Second section– It is dedicated to Ashtavarga species. This species is a group of eight herbs that are found in the Himalayan region.
- Third section– It comprises of Saussurea species and includes Brahmakamal which is the state flower of Uttarakhand.
- Fourth section– It comprises of assorted alpine species such as Ateesh, Meethavish, Choru and Vankakdi.