We,public health students had an educational observational visit on 4th Falgun,2076. Our area of visit was the ICIMOD Knowledge Park, at Godawari, on the southern slopes of the Kathmandu Valley. This is a brief report on what i got to know about the place. ICIMOD was set up in March 1993, following the generous provision of 30 hectares of land in November 1992. The site was originally named as ‘Godavari Trial and Demonstration Site’. The activities at the site are closely related to ICIMOD’s central mandate-“to help and promote the development of an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem and to improve the living standards of mountain populations in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKHs) of all or part of the eight countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.” The site provides a practical pendant to the often more theoretical activities of the centre, a place where different technologies and farming and other practices useful for sustainable development can be tested, selected, and demonstrated; where farmers and those who work with them can be trained; and which can serve as a repository for plant germplasm resources and associated floral and faunal biodiversity. The activities help underpin ICIMOD’s focus on the two major issues challenging the region: the reduction of poverty and the conservation of the natural resource base. All plants are grown under organic conditions, without inputs of inorganic fertilizer or pesticides. Thus the test results reflect the results that could be obtained by the mostly poor farmers in remote areas of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKHs) who have little access to and cannot afford commercial agricultural inputs.

ICIMOD, Knowledge Park emphasizes on local and community level interventions for easier livelihood of people specially in geographically difficult areas. Application of biotechnology is prominent. Various renewable technologies such as beehive bio-briquetting technology, briquette made from papers, pine and banmara that can be easily found in community level resources was observed. There was also demonstration of various types of “Sudhariyeko Chulo”. Agroforestry (cucumber, tomato, capsicum, chilly, plum, pears, etc.), sloping agricultural land technology (SALT), grafting with integrated pest management was observed. We observed natural spring water harvesting as well. According to the research conducted on 2008, among 7000 species of biodiversity found  in Nepal, 694 species are found at ICIMOD. This is highly important feature of Knowledge Park.

The site accounts for maintaining sound public health in many different ways. Income generating activities like animal husbandry, rainbow trout fish farming, bee keeping, kiwi fruit growing, cultivation of high value medicinal and aromatic plants, bamboo management along with its training to the farmers was observed in the knowledge park of ICIMOD. It conducts research in certain time interval and also allows researchers from outside and facilitates them to conduct research in the area. The effect of climate change in the biodiversity and public health was highlighted. Change in the climatic condition creates imbalance in the ecosystem and loss of biodiversity that results in the loss of medically important plants and animals, loss of source for dietary diversity. Change in the climate was indicated by different plant species like orchids. Meteorological and hydrological data of 10 to 15 years are interpreted to explain climate change. Another important feature was the technology of early detection of disaster, which is highly important for pre and post disaster management for both public health professionals and public themselves.

To sum up, one day observational field visit to Knowledge Park was a very informational,  exploring  and productive visit. General and innovative ideas and information on the biodiversity richness of our country, prosperous genetic variety, application of biotechnology for preservation, improvement in quality and enhancement of biodiversity, ecosystem and health were obtained. Practical knowledge on early disaster detection, medicinal importance of different plants, enhancement of livelihood of rural population was acquired. Also, the relevance, importance and need of proper utilization of these sites broadly in public health was well understood. The efforts, knowledge and information provided and guidance of the subject teacher and the respective facilitators of Knowledge Park are highly appreciated. Thankyou!