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School of Biosciences & Biotechnology
School of Biosciences & Biotechnology
The School of Biosciences and Biotechnology has been established by the
University with the aim of conducting teaching, research and extension
programmess revolving round bio-resources. Beginning has been made by
initiating exploration of bio-resources of the entire Pir Panjal range, in
the lap of which the school is located. Data are being collected on the
plants and animals that are used by the local populace including Gujars,
Bakerwals and other nomads for meeting their day-to-day requirements. The
status of such taxa in nature, their utilization along scientific lines
and their amelioration through modern biological interventions is being
initiated. A few research projects have been launched. Proposals for their
funding are pending with the Ministeries of Forests & Environment and
Science and Technology, Govt of India.
Greening India Programme
Under the banner of this
National Programme the school has undertaken massive afforestation drive
to restore the glory, greenery and richness of the denuded Dhanidhar
Forest range. Once hosting rich pine forests, the hills and mountains of
this range are bereft of trees today. As a consequence, the under storey
has also disappeared or is fast disappearing. With liberal assistance from
the state Forest Department, the School planted 57,950 saplings of pine
and several broad leaved taxa, namely Cedrella tona, Alistonia
scholaris, Grewelia robusta, Termenalia arjuna,
Dalbergia sisso, Morus alba, Callistemon lanceolatus etc during
last (2006) rainy season. Their survival, growth, competitiveness and
overall performance are being monitored periodically.
A huge nursery has been
developed to raise planting material, including those of species known for
their soil binding ability. For harvesting rain water huge pits and ponds
have been dug where the run-off from surrounding slopes gets collected for
use in nurturing plantations and recharging ground water reservoirs.
These time-tested technologies
with assistance from Soil conservation and Forest Deportments are aimed at
restoration of degraded eco-systems. The Oasis thus created will hopefully
sensitize village communities to work along similar lines and in this way
a mass movement for greening India is likely to take off.
 
Pir
Panjal Biodiversity Conservatory
The BGSB University is perhaps the only
University in India to have thought of conservation well before digging
even a pit for construction of its campus on the slopes of Dhanidhar
Mountain range. A huge area, measuring 5,200 Kanal is being developed into
a conservatory of the rich fauna and flora of the inner Himalaya which has
suffered most the anthropogenic stress. The biodiversity of Shiwaliks has
been impoverished. Many taxa, endemic to this region, are listed
endangered, some critically, in Red Data Books published by the Botanical
Survey of India and the IUCN.
The montane topography of the conservatory
has been retained. It has been fenced all round. Full time watch and ward
to the conservatory is provided by the forest protection force
Avian fauna of the conservatory has been
enumerated. So far 83-Species belonging to families Accipitridae,
Phasianidae, Columbidae, Psittacidae, Strigidae, Apodidae, Coraciidae,
Capitonidae, Picidae, Alaudidae, Daniidae, Alaudidae, Daniidae, Sturnidae,
Corvidae, Campephagidae, Pycnonotidae, Muscicapidae, Paridae, Sittidae,
Motacillidae, Ploceidae, Fringillidae and Emberizidae have been
identified. Of these, Gyps indicus and G. bengalensis
deserve special mention because they figure in the list of critically
endangered birds of India.
Among mammals, the conservatory hosts
Jackal, barking deer, rufous-tailed hare and leopard. Using Pugmark data
and other parameters attempts are afoot to estimate the number, age & sex
of the leopards visiting the park. Scientists of the State Wildlife
Department are being involved in this exercise.
Herbal Garden
Number of local weeds and wild herbs of the area are being
used by the tribals as medicines to cure their own ailments as also those
of their live stock. While some of them are well known, others are not.
Efforts are afoot to raise a herbal garden where germplasm of all plants
of known medicinal value is being collected. All kinds of variants,
chemotypes, ecotypes and biotypes are being raised for detailed laboratory
work. In the mean time ethno-pharmacognositic information will be
collected to get some useful leads. Plans are also being made to lay A
Touch And Smell Garden for the visually handicapped people and a butterfly
park for education, amusement and conservation.
Meteorological Centre
Rajouri-Poonch region do not have any such
centre so far. The university has raised one in the Biodiversity Park.
Instruments, namely Stevenson Screen. Evaporimeter, Rain Gauge, Wind Van
etc. have already been installed to monitor weather conditions, like
rainfall, temperature, wind direction and speed, humidity etc. An expert
team from S.K. Agriculture University, Jammu was involved in commissioning
the centre which will generate data that will be utilized in all kinds of
ecological investigations.
Women’s Bio-technology Park
In pursuance of its obligation towards the
society the university has evolved short duration courses for rural women
about locally available bio resources and providing them training in
various biocrafts. Mushroom cultivation, apiculture, vermicomposting,
floriculture and cocoon raising have been identified in the first
instance. They will subsequently be helped to develop them into
engagements. Bank loans will be arranged to help them and they will be
organized into cooperatives which will be linked with the market. The park
will assemble experts, trainees, bankers and business men at one place to
help them to develop lasting linkages.
Genome
Clubs
In these days, when genomics is the last
word in biology, knowledge of genome, its structure and function, is vital
even for the lay man. Genomes of only limited number of plants and animals
have been mapped in full. Who does not know about human genome project?
Genomics will help us in making strides in human health, industry and
agriculture. Already many human diseases of which we knew less than little
have been decoded. Identification of genes and their transfer from plants
to animals and vice-versa is already being practiced to tailor plants and
animals to our choice. It is for these reasons that it is being said that
21st century will be the century of biology. In view of the
great potential genomics offers it is necessary to create awareness and
interest for this and related fields among school going children who are
the future scientists. To realize this goal the Department of
Biotechnology, Government of India has lunched a scheme of organizing
Genome clubs at various places throughout the country. We are organizing
one such club in the School of Biosciences and Biotechnology. It is
proposed to activate the club for Higher Secondary Students during the
months of May & June, 2007, when they will be on vacation from the school.
Intake will be restricted to 20.
Faculty:
v
Prof. A. K. Koul
v
Dr. Ashfaq A. Zarri
v
Mr. Tanveer Hussain Shah
v
Ms. Nabila Nazneen
v
Mr. Shakeel Ahmed
v
Mr. Iftikhar H. Khan
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