Mangalore :  Dr Raghavendra Rao, honorary scientist at INSA and former head, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow inaugurated a two-day workshop on plant diversity and conservation  under the joint auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Pilikula Arboretum.Dr M Sanjappa inaugurated the ‘Rare endangered threatened’ garden. He said  man’s greediness was destroying nature  and environment. He also stressed the need to protect and preserve endangered species of plants.

Professor K M Kaveriappa, executive director and Member Secretary of Karnataka State Higher Education Council presided over the function. A brochure of Pilikula Arboretum was inaugurated by Dr M D Rajanna.

J R Lobo, founder executive director, Pilikula Nisargadhama, Dr D Chandrashekhar Chowta, arboretum sub-committee chairman, Vivek Nambiar, information, publicity and public relations officer of Pilikula Nisargadhama  and others were present on the occasion.