Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday launched the Himachal Biodiversity Stakeholder-led Conservation Unified Scheme (HiBiSCUS), a flagship initiative aimed at promoting biodiversity conservation and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities in the state.
Under the scheme, the Himachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board has released ₹2 crore to the Forest Department for implementation. The initiative focuses on ecological restoration, conservation of biological resources and greater participation of local communities.
Sukhu said HiBiSCUS would help protect Himachal’s rich biodiversity, improve climate resilience, conserve medicinal plant resources and enhance farmers’ income through market-linked interventions.
The scheme includes plantation activities on forest, community, private and agricultural lands, along with promotion of medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation. It will also support nursery development, skill building, value addition and market linkages to create sustainable income opportunities for rural communities.
