<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Defence Research and Development Organisation's Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, (DIHAR), Leh Director Dr Om Prakash Chaurasia called for the creation of a gene bank for various endangered species of the Himalayan region. As part of the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE) annual day celebrations, Dr Chaurasiya delivered the third Himalayan Popular Lecture Ladakh Series on Medicinal Plant Biodiversity of Cold-Arid Ladakh Himalaya, in Leh today.</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''</span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Dr Chaurasiya said, the conservation of trans Himalayan species has to be on priority. He said, after the exposure, certain invaluable medicinal and herbal value species are on the brink of extinction. Dr Chaurasiya said, the time has come to announce diversified areas, passes and pockets as protected to conserve the rich biodiversity and plants. During the lecture, he explained the various adaptations of plants in the trans-Himalayan region. He said berries, Heeng and Jeera in the Ladakh region are some of the varieties with high commercial value.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">LAHDC Leh Executive Councillor Stanzin Chosphel said, the essence of the lecture series should also reach the students. He also opined to take the lectures to prepare policies for the development of the Ladakh region.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">University of Ladakh Vice Chancellor Prof SK Mehta said, the University has entered into MoUs with all scientific and research organisations and institutions for the benefit of the students and Ladakh. He informed that the Department of Science and Technology has agreed to set up a Technical and Research Centre in the University for the benefit of the local scientific and industrial community. He also said, with GB Pant NIHE, the University of Ladakh will be setting up a centre to study Climate Change in the region.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">National Institute of Sowa Rigpa Director Dr Padma Gurmet said, after becoming a Union Territory, the region is glad to have the presence of scientific research centres. He called upon the administration to utilize the research and services for the growth of the region.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />''</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Earlier, GB Pant Ladakh Regional Centre Director Dr Subrat Sharma gave a report on year-long activities. He said, the Centre achieved tremendous progress in making livelihood projects and capacity-building activities across the region.</span></p>