CSIR-NBRI Unveils Paawan Path and New Thematic Gardens to Boost Botanical Conservation
In a significant expansion of its botanical conservation efforts, the CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) in Lucknow has launched Paawan Path, a dedicated landscape for herb preservation, along with two innovative thematic gardens. This initiative marks a major step in diversifying the institute's garden collections and strengthening its conservation infrastructure.
Paawan Path: A Living Landscape for Nature Appreciation
According to Ajit Kumar Shasany, director of CSIR-NBRI, Paawan Path, which stands for Plants and Associated Vegetations for Appreciating Nature, serves as a dynamic living landscape designed specifically for conservation purposes. It works in synergy with nearby thematic gardens, including ViBhav Enclave and Bha(I)RaV Enclave, to reinforce the institute's botanical preservation strategies.
Two New Thematic Gardens Enhance Public Engagement
The institute has also established two thematic botanical gardens that combine curated living plant collections with advanced digital tools to improve public engagement and scientific accessibility.
- State Plants of India Garden (Bhairav Enclave): This garden features trees and flowers representing all Indian states. It incorporates dual QR codes that provide visitors with detailed botanical information and audio-based content, making interpretation easier and more interactive.
- Threatened Plants of India Garden (Vibhav Enclave): Designed in the outline of India's map, this garden showcases rare and threatened plant species arranged by region. It allows visitors to understand geographic patterns of plant diversity and conservation risks. QR-based access enables users to view taxonomy, conservation status, and reference information via mobile devices.
AI Integration and Digital Advancements at LWG Herbarium
CSIR-NBRI has further advanced its digital capabilities at the LWG Herbarium, established in 1953, which houses over 2.25 lakh preserved plant specimens. The institute introduced DRONA (Digital Recognition and Organisation of NBRI Herbarium using AI), developed in collaboration with a private venture. This AI implementation, along with QR-based tagging, enables faster recognition, digital organization, and efficient retrieval of specimen data, enhancing research and conservation efforts.
These developments underscore CSIR-NBRI's commitment to leveraging technology for botanical conservation, making plant science more accessible to the public and researchers alike.
