Five-Day Initiative Encourages Environmental Responsibility and Awareness of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
In a significant step towards environmental conservation and the promotion of traditional healthcare knowledge, the Government Ayurveda College and Hospital in Mysuru distributed 5,000 medicinal and herbal saplings to students and members of the public as part of a five-day World Environment Day programme held from June 1 to June 5.
The initiative was organised to foster environmental responsibility, raise awareness about the importance of medicinal plants, and encourage active participation in conservation efforts. The saplings were cultivated and nurtured at Chandravana garden and distributed under the theme, “One Ayurveda Sapling to One Student.”
A diverse range of medicinal and herbal species was distributed during the programme, including Adusoge, Nelabevu, Doddapatre, Lakkigida, Insulin Sasya, Amruthaballi, Basale Soppu, Dasavala, Vandalega, Shankhpushpi, ginger, turmeric, Ashoka, Noni, Hippali, Ashwagandha, and Brahmi. The initiative aimed to promote the preservation and wider use of traditional herbal plants that play a vital role in Ayurveda and community healthcare.
The sapling distribution programme was inaugurated by College Principal Dr. Srivatsa on Friday. More than 400 students of the Ayurveda College actively participated in plantation activities at Chandravana, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to student-led environmental action and sustainability.
Several organisations, students, and local residents joined the programme, highlighting strong community engagement in environmental protection. The initiative sought to connect ecological conservation with the practical relevance of medicinal plant knowledge while encouraging households, educational institutions, and community groups to cultivate locally available herbal species.
Organisers noted that preserving medicinal plants is essential not only for biodiversity conservation but also for safeguarding traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, which rely heavily on natural herbal resources.
The development comes amid growing interest in strengthening Ayurveda research and conservation efforts across Karnataka. Recently, demands have intensified for establishing an Ayurveda research centre in Kappatagudda in Gadag district, a region renowned for its rich biodiversity and abundance of medicinal plants, making it an important resource for traditional medicine research and development.
