Maharashtra Revenue Minister Inaugurates Rare Plant Species Park at Nagpur

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, in a bid to promote tree conservation and biodiversity, inaugurated the Rare, Endangered, and Threatened (RET) Plant Species Park at Butibori, Nagpur, as part of the state's "Harit Maharashtra, Samruddha Maharashtra" campaign. The event was jointly organized by the Nagpur Forest Division, Maharashtra Gene Bank Project, and Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board, with the aim of planting 10 crore trees across the state by 2025. The park features over 70 species of rare, endangered, and threatened plants, each digitally labelled with a QR code providing information on their scientific name, conservation status, ecological role, and traditional uses.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Rare, Endangered, and Threatened (RET) Plant Species Park at Butibori, Nagpur, was inaugurated by Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday.
  • The park features over 70 species of rare, endangered, and threatened plants, digitally labelled with QR codes providing information on their scientific name, conservation status, ecological role, and traditional uses.
  • The park also houses a library with books such as "Jungle Trees of Central India" to promote awareness and conservation.
  • The event was part of the state's "Harit Maharashtra, Samruddha Maharashtra" campaign, envisioned by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, to plant 10 crore trees across the state by 2025.
  • The initiative also coincides with the central government's "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" initiative.
  • Minister Bawankule instructed government departments to establish regional nurseries and appealed for public involvement to make tree conservation a mass movement.
  • He directed officials to develop more RET parks in the district and promoted the need for conservation of rare, endangered, and threatened species.
  • Local residents, school and college students, and NGOs participated in the plantation drive using the Amrit Vriksh App and Selfie with Tree initiative.
  • The event was managed under the guidance of Dr Vineeta Vyas and Dr Bharatsingh Hada, with coordination by Pramod Wade and Priyadarshan Babhale.

Statistics:

  • Over 70 species of rare, endangered, and threatened plants were planted across 4.5 hectares at the park.
  • 10 crore trees are to be planted across Maharashtra by 2025 as part of the "Harit Maharashtra, Samruddha Maharashtra" campaign.
  • The campaign is aimed at increasing the state's tree cover and promoting biodiversity conservation.
  • The initiative also focuses on raising awareness about the importance of tree conservation and the role of citizens in making it a mass movement.

Sources:

  • "Hitavada", Copyright 2025, distributed by Contify.com.