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Satellite mapping of flora hotspots

indian scientists have digitally mapped rich flora spread over an area of about 84,000 square kilometres of thick forest. The first phase of this exercise was conducted in the biodiversity hotspots of the northeast, western Himalaya and Western Ghats with the aid of state-of-the-art satellite technology.

The digital mapping project is part of a joint programme undertaken by the department of biotechnology (dbt), department of space and the Union ministry of environment and forests. "The role of dbt is to map the gene pool of plant species,' says Renu Swarup, director, dbt. The data generated by the mapping will be compiled as a

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