What is Prakriti Gyan Dham? CSIR-NBRI’s First Eco-Educational Hub Inaugurated

Prakriti Gyan Dham is a new eco-educational center based in Lucknow, which intends to integrate scientific research, biodiversity conservation, and environmental education with society. This educational institution has been inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, and has been developed by CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI).

It is situated in Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Center at Banthra, Prakriti Gyan Dham is intended to become an operational live lab, wherein students, teachers, scientists, and nature lovers will be able to learn more about botanical heritage of India through firsthand experience.

What Is Prakriti Gyan Dham?

Prakriti Gyan Dham is known as the first eco-educational center of CSIR-NBRI. Its main mission is integration of science with society through biodiversity conservation, environmental education, botanical heritage, and experience-based learning.

As opposed to classroom and laboratory based on learning, Prakriti Gyan Dham uses gardens, heritage trees, collections of plants, interactive exhibitions, and other technologies to inform about ecological diversity of India.

This institution also emphasizes the role of botanical resources in sustainable livelihoods, ecological restoration, and green development.

Main Attraction Points in Prakriti Gyan Dham

PAaVan Path

• PAaVan Path, or Plants and Associated Vegetations for Appreciating Nature, is one of the main attraction points in the heritage path where visitors get an opportunity to appreciate various plant collections and vegetation types within their ecological setting.
• PAaVan Path aims to enhance the level of knowledge about plant diversity and help visitors learn the connection between vegetation and ecosystems.

Indian Heritage Garden

• Indian Heritage Garden comprises of the trees that have associations with the historically and culturally important sites in India.
• Examples include the Bawan Imli Tamarind Tree from Fatehpur that has connection with the martyrdom of 52 freedom fighters. Also, there are the Mother Dussehri Mango Tree from Lucknow and the historically significant Patalpuri Banyan Tree from Prayagraj.
• Besides, the heritage garden includes the offspring of the trees associated with Mahatma Gandhi such as the mango tree planted in Bhitiharwa, Champaran.
• These plants are not only botanical but also have connections to the history and cultural heritage of India.

QR-code digitalisation

• Apart from the plants, Prakriti Gyan Dham uses technology to enhance visitors’ experience. Many trees and exhibits have QR codes allowing visitors to know the information related to these trees and exhibits.
• This digital technology provides an opportunity to make botany interactive and educational.

Bamboosteum

• The other unique feature of Prakriti Gyan Dham is Bamboosteum featuring 43 examples of bamboo species and their usages.
• The display highlights the potential role of bamboo in ecological rehabilitation, carbon management and sustainable development as well as in the production of environment-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods.

What makes Prakriti Gyan Dham Relevant?

This place is intended for promoting the practical teaching of environmental education. This means that students and teachers have a chance to study plants and the functioning of ecosystems by observing them directly instead of doing it in the classroom only.

In addition, it focuses on the economic value of biological resources. Plant resources can become part of green construction and sustainable handicrafts provided that they are managed properly.

Finally, the conservation of botanical and cultural heritage is one more purpose of the center. This is done with the help of showing important trees and traditions, as well as plant diversity.