Indian remote sensing expertise to benefit IORA

LUCKNOW India is set to share its expertise in satellite based remote sensing with the members of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for saving the biodiversity of medicinal and aromatic plants.

The members of the association are currently participating in the six-day training program on ‘Diversity, documentation, gene banking and database for medicinal plants’ at CSIR-CIMAP (Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants) which began in Lucknow on November 26. Once formulated, the technology will allow the member countries to monitor the areas, in real time, where the medicinal and aromatic plants are grown.

The facility is currently being used only by a bunch of countries, including India. Reportedly, Indian scientists have identified over 1,742 medicinal plants found in the country.

“We (India) have been working on developing a common database of essential plants that are a source of medicines, rare chemical and aromatic derivatives,” said Prof PS Roy, who has been a member of the team that started the programming during the stint with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Roy shared the details of the project with delegates of 13 IORA member countries that are attending the training program at CIMAP. “At present, at least 13 organisations of our country are working together in the project. We are trying to involve IORA members to expand the database and improve cooperation among the nations,” said Roy.

“The programme is being conducted by IORA countries to share knowledge among all its members,” said Prof AK Tripathi, director, CIMAP.

An agreement has been made on developing a genetic database of these plants among all the member nations.

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