Mysore/Mysuru: Rtn. R. Ravindra Bhat, newly installed Governor of Rotary District 3181, along with several Clubs of Zone 7 and Zone 8, donated 200 kg of bamboo seeds to the Conservator of Forests (CF), Bandipur Tiger Reserve, on July 15 at Bandipur.

This year the native bamboo species Bambusa bambos has flowered in the Nilgiri Biosphere. Bamboo is among the fastest growing plants in the world. This species has a flowering cycle of around 40 years.

Partnering with the restoration NGO Junglescapes, Rotary Dist. 3181 procured the seeds that were given to the  Forest Department. 

Speaking on the occasion, the Department appreciated Rotary’s concern for the forests and complimented them on providing them with good quality seeds on time. 

This project is part of Rotary International’s newest 7th Area of Focus, ‘Supporting the Environment’. 

The given quantity, 200 kg, would contain around 1.6 crore seeds. The planted seeds are expected to have good field  survival rates. This augurs well for vast areas of the Tiger Reserve. This effort will go a long way in helping to fight climate change by sequestering atmospheric carbon quickly and help in mitigation of man-elephant conflicts, in tune with this year’s RI theme, ‘Serve to Change Lives’.