Una to have Rs 8 cr ethno-botanical garden.

Why in news?

• The state’s first ethno-botanical park to conserve the endangered and vulnerable species of plants and trees of the lower Shivalik hills in Kangra, Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts will be set up in Una.
• The park will come up on a 26-hectare land in the Androli unprotected forest area at Bangana in Una district
• The park, being jointly developed by the Forest Department, Rural Development Department and Tourism Department at a cost of Rs 8 crore, will be located adjacent to the Govind Sagar lake.
• The park will have a laser area, night garden and butterfly park to attract tourists while the greenhouse and Ayurveda garden will be the venue for botanical knowledge sharing. The park will house about 150 rare varieties of plants and trees.
• “One block will promote seasonal visits of migratory birds to the wetlands and facilitate photographers and bird watchers to boost tourism,”

What is Ethno – botanical garden?

• Ethnobotanical gardens, defined here as landscapes featuring culturally-relevant native trees and understory plants, are sources for the revitalization of traditional knowledge as well as sources for cultural and ecological restoration projects.