So sad and so true Pankaj. We need to reach out to all the society as scientists. Showing what a great world we have and how unique. Then maybe people will feel it important enough to lobby for preserving biodiversity, clean air, water, soil & food rather than cheaper electronics, power hungry buildings and sprawling urban areas.
On Thu, Mar 22, 2012 at 7:17 AM, Balkar Singh <[email protected]> wrote: > Great Thought Pankaj Ji. This shows the love and pain towards the scenario > of biodiversity around the world in the heart of a great personality like > him. > Now simple question is that what a common man, a botanist and a nature > lover can do to save the biodiversity. Most of the *bureaucrats* don't > pay any attention towards this type of problems. > > > On Thu, Mar 22, 2012 at 6:42 AM, Dr Pankaj Kumar > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Yesterday I was in a meeting with one very senior, great orchid expert >> from Russia, Prof. Leonid Averyanov. He has spent nearly 30 years studying >> plants in Vietnam and of course studied Russian Orchids and flora too. He >> has named over 200 new taxa to science. >> We were four guys, Russian, Austrian, British and me, Indian. >> He said something that really touched me a lot so felt like sharing. >> He asked why do we collect herbarium specimens? >> Some one answered that to make vouchers of our collections. Its acts like >> a proof that yes we saw and studied this plant. >> And his answer was, "NO. ITS BECAUSE, WHEN NOTHING WILL REMAIN ON EARTH >> THEN WE CAN SHOW THESE COLLECTIONS TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND TELL THEM >> THAT SUCH PLANTS EXISTED ON EARTH BUT WE DESTROYED THEM TO EXTINCTION". >> I got goose bumps hearing him say this... >> Pankaj >> >> >> >> > > > -- > Regards > > Dr Balkar Singh > Head, Deptt. of Botany and Biotechnology > Arya P G College, Panipat > Haryana-132103 > 09416262964 > -- Dr. Aparna Watve At present : 34/6, Gulawani Maharaj Rd. Pune 411004 9822597288/ 020-25430309
