Pithoragarh, Sept. 14 -- To promote awareness about preservation, sustainable use and celebrate the contribution of rare Himalayan flora to the ecosystem, the research wing of the Uttarakhand forest department has proposed to celebrate a flower week during the blooming season of Buransh (Rhododendron) and Padam (Prunus cerasoides). Sanjeev Chaturvedi, director of the research wing at Haldwani, said the event for Buransh is likely to be held in the second week of March, while the flower week for Padam could be organised in the second week of October, when these species are in peak bloom. The aim is to highlight seasonal blooming, raise awareness among local communities and tourists about the ecological and cultural significance of these species, and document traditions and folklore related to them, he said. "We also aim to create awareness about sustainable harvesting and to mitigate the threat of overexploitation of these rare Himalayan species," he said. Buransh, which grows at altitudes between 1,500 and 3,300 metres on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, is found from Kashmir to Bhutan and also in China, Myanmar and Thailand, usually alongside conifers and oak. Padam, which grows at heights of 1,200 to 2,400 metres, is unique for flowering twice a year - first during March-April and again in September-October. It has a great contribution to the forest ecosystem by providing nectar and pollen to bees and butterflies," he said....