What is in news : 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.

Details

• Why – Conserving various medicinally and culturally important alpine species and to conduct research on propagation and habitat ecology of these species.
• How – This Park was developed in three years under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme of the central government.
• Info –
  • Comprises of 40 species which are found in high altitude alpine areas in Indian Himalayan region
  • 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 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.