Japan helps Sikkim?s biodiversity worth $ 25 billion

Japan helps Sikkim?s biodiversity worth $ 25 billion

Sikkim: Adding much greener, fresher and bigger organic celebration than elsewhere in the country. The tiny Himalayan state of Sikkim ?God?s own Garden,? held its 2nd Sikkim International Flower Show 2013 from February 23, at the manicured Saramsa Gardens near Gangtok.

The five-day long mega exhibition was participated by representatives from 9 countries, 7 Indian state Governments including Kerala, Mizoram, Karnataka. All in total, the global level floral exhibition saw over 31 private players setting up close to 82 stalls, attended by a footfall of over two lakh visitors.

The second smallest Indian state with total area, covering approximately 7,096 sq km is home to a vast bio diversity treasure of around 5000 species of flowering plants, 600 species of orchids, 240 species of trees and ferns, 150 varieties of gladioli, 36 types of rhododendrons along with a variety of magnolias and many other foliage plants.

The department of horticulture is hopeful, the flower show would put Sikkim in the world floriculture map while providing significant synergy to the filed of tourism too, a major economic pillars of the state.

?In another good news, a team of experts from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited remote areas of Sikkim to review work on a biodiversity conservation and forest management project last month.

"With such a varied topography and rich biodiversity, India as a whole and especially Sikkim is a dreamland for anyone in floriculture business. Though Sikkim's presence is not yet very bold in international market of over $ 25 billion, it hosts immense potential to be so in newer future," said Mr. Jan Willem Mantel, Area Export Manager of 'De Jong Lelies,' a major global level company dealing with Lilies from Netherlands.

JICA is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance (ODA) for the Government of Japan. The scheme is already been implemented in Okhrey, Kitam and Dzongu villages in West and North Sikkim. It has been also reported that ten more villages to be covered for the development of eco-tourism very soon. The project will not only promote green environment, it will definitely help the local inhabitants, who are dependent on forests, covering key areas of biodiversity conservation, eco tourism and scientific management of forest areas with active involvement of local communities.

Source: http://www.mynews.in/News/japan_helps_sikkims_biodiversity_worth_$_25_billion_N544530.html

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