Dehradun, May 20 -- Uttarakhand forest department's research wing on Monday dedicated the state's first Cycad Garden to the public. It is the first such garden developed by Uttarakhand Forest Research Wing dedicated to cycads and the second largest Cycad conservatory in India after National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), said forest officials Sanjeev Chaturvedi, chief conservator of forests and in-charge Forest Research Wing said the cycad garden has been established over an area of around two acres in Haldwani with funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA. "The main objective of establishing this cycad garden is to facilitate further research in these species and to create awareness among people". He said Cycads have been used by humans for a variety of purposes, from food and medicine to ornamental and cultural significance. "They are a remarkable group of plants that have survived through time and continue to play important ecological, cultural, and aesthetic roles. This cycad garden provides a glimpse into the world of cycads, and highlights the need to protect these ancient species for future generations". Chaturvedi said Cycads are one of the most threatened groups of plants. "Cycads depend on specific pollinators (e.g., beetles) and mycorrhizal fungi for reproduction and nutrient uptake, illustrating tight ecological dependencies. Cycads are known to fix nitrogen in association with various cyanobacteria living in the roots," he said Chaturvedi said as "living fossils," cycads are studied for insights into plant evolution, pollination biology, and climate change impacts. "Cycads often grow in nutrient-poor or rocky soils, where their root systems help prevent erosion. Their symbiotic cyanobacteria fix nitrogen, enriching soils and benefiting nearby plants. Cycads are long-lived, with slow growth and low reproductive rates, making them vulnerable to habitat disturbance"....