The man who initiated Cherry Blossom Festival in Shillong, Dinabandhu Sahoo, has been conferred with this year ‘Green Globe Award 2022’ for his contributions in the field of biodiversity, conservation and Himalayan ecosystem.
The Green Globe Award was conferred to Sahoo during a function held at IIT Delhi today. Bollywood actor Darshan Kumar gave away the award to Sahoo in the presence of Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey who was the chief guest in the event.
The award was instituted by the Confederation of Renewable Energy Services Professionals and Industries in association with IIT Delhi, IIM Lucknow and Hansraj College, University of Delhi.
Sahoo is the Director at the Centre for Himalayan Studies under Delhi University.
As Director of Imphal-based Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development (ISBD), Sahoo was instrumental in launching India’s first Cherry Blossom Festival in Shillong in November 2016 which became an annual event for the past six years.
Due to Sahoo’s sustained efforts, Cherry Blossom is now available in six of the eight north-eastern states, excluding Assam and Tripura.
A new Cherry Blossom plant species — Prunus Dinabandhuana — has been named after him.
